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Name: The Tomato Head
Address: 12 Market Sq, Knoxville, TN, 37902
Telephone: (865) 637-4067
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 4.37

The Tomato Head

12 Market Sq, Knoxville, TN, 37902

(865) 637-4067
Store is closed

The Tomato Head Menu

Appetizers

Hummus Plate

Hummus & Blue Corn Chips

Black Bean Hummus

Bread & Pesto

Bread & Dressing

Pepperoni Or Spinach Roll

Blue Corn Chips & Roasted Tomato Chipotle Salsa
Housemade Soups

Soup

Cup Of Soup & Side Salad

Organic Grains - Black Beans & Brown Rice
Salads

House Salad

Caesar Salad

Pasta Salad

Chef Salad

Veggie Chef

Baked Tofu Salad

Greek Salad

Southwestern Salad

Warm Bacon Salad

Scoop Of Chicken Salad
Sandwiches

Ham & Cheese

Turkey Melt

Tomato Head

Cheddar Head

Hummus Pita
Quesadillas

Cheese Quesadilla

Veggie Quesadilla

Chicken Or Baked Tofu
Sweets

Cookies

Pie

Cupcakes

Healthy Meal suggestions for The Tomato Head

Appetizers

Hummus Plate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hummus & Blue Corn Chips [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Black Bean Hummus [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bread & Pesto [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bread & Dressing [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pepperoni Or Spinach Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Blue Corn Chips & Roasted Tomato Chipotle Salsa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Housemade Soups

Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cup Of Soup & Side Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Organic Grains - Black Beans & Brown Rice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Salads

House Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caesar Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pasta Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chef Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veggie Chef [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Baked Tofu Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Greek Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Southwestern Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Warm Bacon Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Scoop Of Chicken Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sandwiches

Ham & Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Turkey Melt [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tomato Head [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheddar Head [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hummus Pita [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Quesadillas

Cheese Quesadilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veggie Quesadilla [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Or Baked Tofu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sweets

Cookies [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pie [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cupcakes [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Visit below restaurant in Knoxville for healthy meals suggestion.

Subway ( 8410 Middlebrook Pike )

Subway ( 7654 Oak Ridge Hwy )

Bojangles ( 505 Lovell Rd )

Visit below restaurant in Knoxville for healthy meals suggestion.

Subway ( 8410 Middlebrook Pike )

Subway ( 7654 Oak Ridge Hwy )

Bojangles ( 505 Lovell Rd )

Write An Anonymous Review

Uriah R.

I'm not sure what to make of this place. As far as eating in, I'm VERY different from most of the diners there. I'm not sure exactly what a hipster is, but I think they were there in droves. A little too trendy for me. Every time I've been there (but once) it seemed like they were doing me a favor by serving me and trying to get refills on my drink. Most of the crowd there is way younger then me (I'm getting to be in the Cracker Barrel demographics...) and much much hipper. Felt like a fish out of water and it's not exactly a dressy place. The food wasn't bad, but it was different. For pizza, I'd take Pizza Palace over this place anyday but I think they are going for completely different tastes (try to find much vegan at Pizza Palace). I have no idea what pesto or hummus is, but if you like it they have plenty of it. I like the blue corn chips which I can't think of anybody else having local. I also liked the house and southwestern salads. The ham and cheese sandwich was really good but I thought overly expensive (it IS ham and cheese). Not likely to be back again, they have too many places around here I can actually eat at and not fill like I don't fit in, as weird as that sounds. Not like I'm the customer they're going after anyway, but oddly enough, they used to advertise (sponsor) on my favourite local station which is how I heard about them.
(3)
Kristin P.

My boyfriend and I decided to vacation in Knoxville over the 4th of July weekend this year and we loved Tomato Head so much we went twice in the span of three days! This place is amazing!! So many options for vegetarians, vegans, meat-lovers, everyone. The salmon/pesto pizza is to die for. The monkey bread is delicious. The service was amazing. There's really nothing bad to say!
(5)
Esq. H.

DeDamnlicious! Known for pizzas we all got a pizza and everyone was 100% satisfied with their meal. We each got a 9 inch pizza for lunch with varying toppings which resulted in a crazy range of prices. My pizza was the cheapest coming in at 12$ and my coworkers came up to be $21 which is somewhat insane for 9 inches. You can get half/half on the pizzas for no extra cost. I had the roasted turkey and soy cheese on one half and chicken/vegan pesto on the other and that pizza didn't stand a chance. The crust was great too, soft warm, fluffy, and perfect! Anyone can eat here and I mean anyone they have so many vegan, soy, gluten (as well as 'regular') options that there's something for everyone. The patrons with the higher tabs had pork/bacon products on their pizza which they loved but didn't think it was enough to justify a $21 9" pizza. They have LOTs of other options on the menu (e.g., salads, sandwiches, etc.). We sat right next to the kitchen and everything that passed our table looked great. It wasn't crowded for lunch (but was far from empty); our party of 5 was seated immediately. I was however disappointed with the dessert. I had the gluten sensitive Italian cream cupcake which was a whopping $6.50 and I only ate half of it......it was dry, it wasn't tasty, and definitely not worth the calories, I'm sure I would have been better off with a cookie. The ambiance is nice, well lit, modern, and airy with plenty of space. Well done Knoxville I will be back!
(5)
Alex A.

It was up to expectations, but I wanted it to surpass them so badly. The staff was fair at best, it almost seemed like it was their job to pretend to listen. I had to ask for a beer menu a few times, the food came out wrong, great, but still wrong. And they were far from busy. Price was decent. Worth the stop, but only if your first pick was full.
(4)
Zack F.

This is a small to medium size, bustling place. It's obviously quite popular and the staff is efficient at helping you wade through the process from stepping in to food in your belly. They have an intriguing selection of local, craft beers, a modest wine selection, high end natural sodas, and tea/coffee. The food was de, wait for it, licious. The bread was fresh and yummy. All the other ingredients were fresh and tasty as well. They have lots of vegetarian and vegan options throughout the menu. Even though they are clearly popular and as a result, busy, the service is prompt, friendly and quick. Overall it has a warm, welcoming atmosphere. It's located in a hip part of town. Best of all it's healthy! Tastes great with no guilt or regrets. A note about the tea. It's $2.25 and you get a large metal pot with two tea bags and a cup that stays warm. You can take your time and never be lacking in warm, inviting tea.
(5)
Rachel C.

Love! I am a regular here for a reason, the food. The number one pizza is awesome. Oh boy may be the best sandwich on the face of the planet. I also like the Lucy and their brunch is good too.
(5)
Paul G.

Loud but nice. Very nice, attentive wait person. One of our orders was supposed to have hummus, but only had a little, which made the dish dry. When brought to the server's attention, she replaced it with a salad and only charged us for the salad
(4)
Sarah B.

I searched on Yelp to find a vegan friendly place while on a road trip. Thanks Yelpers we stopped at The Tomato Head. Great little place in a real cute part of town. My husband and I ordered the Hummus Plate to start. It had fresh broccoli, tomatoes, cucumbers and wheat pita. The menu stated "warm pita" however it wasn't. The hummus was pretty good, beware it's loaded with garlic! I'm fine with that I love garlic. We both ordered the small vegan sandwich. The small was perfect since we had the hummus. The sandwich has marinated tofu, spinach, sprouts, tomato and really good in house vegan pesto. The bread was a poppy seed type also made in house, and it was really good! We so both got blue chips with house made chipotle salsa. I did not care for the salsa. It was smokey but pretty plain otherwise. They have a ton on the menu and you can pretty much convert anything to vegan. They offer soy cheese to add on a pizza, veggie burger, burrito or quesadilla. They have a huge tea menu for hot or cold drinks. I noticed on the way out they offer vegan desserts, I'm not big on sweets but they looked good!
(4)
Jim M.

I'm a "former" Knoxville but am back in town once or twice a year. Some of my friends bring me to the Tomato Head ever few trips. First, let me say: "Yay to KnoxVegas for revitalizing (well, starting to revitalize) downtown and Market Square." The progress is slow, but things are getting better. Frankly, I have never been overwhelmed by the food at the Tomato Head. This past visit, I had a salad. The salad was nothing special and the blue cheese dressing was kinda watery. My friend had a pizza which was one of the better pizzas I have tried in Knoxville, but about as good as most of the pizzas on the California Pizza Kitchen menu. The staff was friendly and the service was good. I'll definitely go back.
(3)
Nancy W.

We had the pizza and it was exceptional. Crust was homemade like the kind you get in Italy. Prices were very reasonable as was the prices for a glass of wine. Friendly and the service was great. Highly recommended.
(5)
Rod S.

Great place for vegans. Vegan pizza. I had the Jose Jose burrito. Very good. Good portion size. Friendly staff. The only bad part was paying $6 for parking.
(5)
Cassandra B.

Yum! Tomato Head doesn't have a huge amount of vegan options on the menu but they definitely have some variety and they made a good pizza.
(3)
Will B.

My girlfriend and I went to this cafe/restaurant in downtown Knoxville, and had a terrific lunch! The food was d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s and they have great gluten-free options. Their tomato soup was to die for, and the remaining entrees were as exceptional. The servers were very friendly, and the prices were acceptable. Highly recommended.
(5)
Rhea P.

Super happy to see vegan options in Knoxville. I had the hardest time trying to figure out what to order. I could not BELIEVE the pizzas and salads this place was popping out! The cupcake was worth every single calorie. . .wow, I can taste it now! My sandwich, well. . .I'll pull a Randy Jackson--"it was alright", not amazing or mind blowing by any means; I'll try something else next time. Cozy environment with something for vegetarians and meat eaters alike.
(3)
Sarah W.

I adore the beer list here!! THe pepperoni roll appetizer was delicious. My sausage pizza was good. The service and location are excellent. The cupcake for dessert was ok.
(4)
David R.

We went here for our dinner with our youth group. Our kids have food allergies galore and this place had amazing pizza to accommodate all our allergies.
(5)
Brittany C.

I am a vegetarian, and my family loves pizza. This place is sooooo much better to go to than anywhere else. No matter what kind of pizza you like, but especially if you are vegetarian/vegan, you will adore this place.
(5)
Luann B.

Our party of 4 went there for breakfast, and were vastly disappointed. You cannot get fried eggs at all. If you don't want scrambled eggs, huevos rancheros, an egg sandwich, an omelet, or burritos, you are just out of luck. I wanted scrambled eggs, but they did not have any that came with a meal, so I had to order my eggs, bacon, toast, and small fruit cup ala carte. I asked for jelly for my toast and was told they had a blackberry compote for an extra $1.50. They brought a tiny plastic cup with 3-4 large, seedy blackberries in it, floating in blackberry juice. There was no way those hard blackberries would spread on the underdone toast they gave me. The fruit cup consisted of 1 small piece of orange, 1 small slice of apple, and 9 or 10 grapes. For the above-listed items, and a cup of coffee, they charged us $21 - our total bill was $31.00 and my husband just had a small omelet, cheese grits, 1 biscuit, and coffee. We won't go back there for breakfast again.
(2)
Christine D.

I enjoyed a nice lunch on the patio area with my pups on a lovely K-ville afternoon. Had the hummus platter appetizer and the daily special sandwich, which was a BLT with fried green tomatoes. I am such a sucker for fried green tomatoes...anyway the sandwich was delicious, especially the thick cut bacon pieces that were on it. It wasn't your average bacon, it was like 100x better than that. The food came out fast and prices were good. I also love that the patio area is dog friendly. The Tomato Head is a nice little find and i'd be happy to return someday to try more of the menu.
(4)
Min M.

Fun atmosphere and great beer. Don't know about the vegan stuff. Just went in for pizza, calzone and a salad. Salad fine. Pizza and calzone not up to our expectations. The crust is very soft. No good chewiness. No crisp edges. Very white bread soft on both. Even more ruined by heavy dried oregano flavor. Terribly balanced. Staff friendly and helpful they just need some new recipes.
(3)
Catherine S.

So happy this spot exists! Every time I've gone the service has been surprisingly attentive despite the amazing crowds that this place draws. They truly know how to put together a tasty salad, and their tahini dressing is lick-off-the-spoon delicious. Their pizza is solid, and I like some of the creative ingredients they have. They have fun, inventive specials too, which often include locally grown organic produce--I recently had a burrito with sriracha crema, daikon slaw, beans, and so many other things I can't even remember, and a homemade green tomato salsa on the side. Looking forward to trying more of their sandwiches--it has been hard to branch out since their salads and pizzas are so great. Also, extremely reasonable beer prices (especially since we moved here from a big city where $6 pints are typical/lower end). Every university town needs a hippy veg-friendly rock-solid restaurant, and this is Knoxville's!
(5)
David M.

I love tomato head, but it is expensive. Great atmosphere on Market Square. Casual dress is no problem. Take out is available. They use local meat and produce. My personal pizza was over $14.00, including tax. I will return, but not as often as I have in the past. My total bill was over $20.00, and this was before 6:00 PM.
(4)
Mary P.

A lovely meal all around. I loved the chic vibe in the atmosphere and the food was exceptional. I had a calzone and was certainly not disappointed. The only drawback was the noise level. If you want a conversation without raising your voice and having your neighbors hear, you might want to try something different.
(4)
Yures N.

The first time I went there was fine, but the last time I went there, I literally had the worst service I've had in my entire life. Our waiter David must have been smoking something wayyy too good (and possibly laced, because he certainly wasn't too friendly). He just kept staring into the abyss mid-conversation, and even poured water on my friends phone (far from the actual glass mind you). The food was good. Our server was just so out of it, he brought my friend something completely different than what he ordered. He proceeded to argue with my friend about the order. (Just take it back with a smile dude.) This guy was terrible in every other way imaginable, but the fact that he was rude on top things means we will never be going back.
(1)
Joy W.

lamb pizza and cupcakes are good. Cupcakes are not that sweet, and it's my taste.
(4)
Britta N.

Stopped here on a Friday night. It was pretty packed, but we were able to get a table quickly. The service and food were both quick. I had the vegan sandwich. It was awesome. The pesto tasted very fresh and they didn't skimp on it. Lots of vegetarian options and tofu dishes.
(5)
Channa P.

BRUNCH! This review is all about the brunch at Tomato Head. It's just as great as the lunch/dinner options. During my last visit I got a breakfast sandwich with egg, benton bacon, chorizo, and a great cheese. My side of cheese grits had a bit of a bell pepper zest and were amazingly creamy. The fresh fruit on the side was great as well. The omelete and and waffle station were next to me and I can't wait to go back and try one (maybe both). Just like at any other time there will be a bit of a wait. It's definitely worth it.
(4)
Evan H.

There are a few reasons why I love the Tomato Head: 1. The menu is focused on natural, organic, vegetarian, and vegan options. My wife is a vegetarian, so there are several good options for her. 2. The Tomato Head is locally owned. 3. The atmosphere is great. There is a very open feeling, with lots of energy. Be careful, though, it will often be very crowded. The staff is mostly of the hipster crowd. The Tomato Head is located in Market Square, which is downtown Knoxville. In the last decade, much effort has been put into revitalizing this once-bustling city center. The Tomato Head has a lot of character, and draws a lot of people to Market Square. Wonderful personality, good food, great location, and unique overall experience make Tomato Head a must for anyone visiting knoxville.
(5)
Ashley H.

When I'm in East Tennessee, I am there to visit family and friends... and to eat at the Tomato Head. Seriously. If I don't get to eat at the Tomato Head before I take off from McGhee Tyson Airport, my trip isn't really complete. So what makes this place so great, you ask? I'll make it easier on myself by just listing all the reasons why I love the Tomato Head. 1. Fresh-from-the-oven goodness. The Tomato Head bakes all it's breads, pizza crusts, and baked goods (cookies, cakes, and pies) from scratch. The bread that's hugging your sandwich was baked that morning. 2. Fresh, local ingredients. The veggies in the restaurants' dishes are organic and/or grown locally. That means you're getting food that hasn't had to travel very far, isn't loaded with weird chemicals, and is supporting the surrounding farming communities. 3. Great flavor combinations. Smoked salmon and pesto on a pizza? Monterey Jack, pineapple, and tofu on a sandwich? An egg and chorizo burrito? Yes, yes, yes... And they are all fantastic. The Tomato Head has a collection of tried-and-true dishes that have become mainstays for some of my family members and friends (the Oh Boy sandwich is always a favorite), but the restaurant also has daily specials that include new and innovate flavor pairings. Follow them on Twitter to get updates on what they're serving up that day. 4. Options for everyone. Whether you're a hardcore carnivore or a devout vegan, there is something at the Tomato Head for you. The restaurants have lots of meatless options or meat alternatives, including tofu, soy cheese, and soy sausage (yeah, I didn't even know such a thing existed!). Their salads and soups are also delicious. Plus they have cookies--even vegan cookies--and they are fantastic. 5. Multiple, historic locations. The first Tomato Head is located in Knoxville's historic Market Square: one of the best places for people-watching in the city. This location is packed during the lunch hour and a bustling dinner spot in the evening. There is also brunch on the weekends and a patio for the warmer months. A few years ago, a second location opened in Maryville (south of Knoxville) on Broadway, right in the center of town. This location can accommodate a few more people inside and also boasts sidewalk dining. The specials vary by location, but the food and the vibe are of the same caliber at both. 6. Supporting local artists. If you visit either of the Tomato Heads locations, you'll be surrounded by the work of local artists, most of which is available for purchase. In addition, their menus sport the work of Yee Haw Industries, a Knoxville-based letterpress print shop. Such an affinity for the arts attracts a diverse group of people to the Tomato Head, both in its employees and its patrons. You never know who you might see! 7. Friendly staff. I've never had a bad experience at either location. The staff is always friendly, attentive, and eclectic--fits perfectly with the food and the atmosphere. Despite this list of "loves," there are a few things that I do not like about the Tomato Head (::Gasp!:: I know. You must be shocked!). 1. No-go on the waffles? The one bad food experience I've had here was the first time I got brunch from the downtown Knoxville location. I decided to get waffles (one of my all-time favorite breakfast foods), but didn't realize that all the condiments were cold. You can't put cold blueberries on a hot waffle; it's sacrilegious. That turned me off from brunch at the Tomato Head for awhile, until I tried a breakfast burrito. Now I'm a fan. I can't vouch for the waffles of the present day, but I'd try the burritos and savory items first, if I were you. 2. The WC is where? At the Knoxville location, you have to walk through the back kitchen to get to the powder room. No matter what restaurant you are in, that is never very pleasant. 3. Only in East TN? There is a Tomato Head in Chicago, but it is not the proper Tomato Head. Don't confuse the two! So, if you ever heard me rave about the Tomato Head, now you know exactly what I'm talking about. I strongly recommend that any visitor to East Tennessee stop by either location (or both you have have the time). You won't regret it. Seriously.
(5)
Valentine W.

Food is amazing, but keep in mind - this is mostly a deli with salads, sandwiches, and pizzas. Portion sizes are small and/or prices are too high for what it is. The food is fresh, healthy, and delicious - but I just can't stomach $16 for a personal pizza or paying $1 for a side of hot sauce with my Mexican dish. 3 years ago, this was a no-brainer 5 star restaurant.
(3)
Zhu L.

awesome placeï¼We arrived at noon and not too much guys. While just a few minutes a crowd of people came in and soon tomato head became lively. I must commit that it is indeed such amazing and comfort to stay hereï¼The huge windows and the design style inside the cafe are full of antique flavors ! We had a sandwich and a slice of pizza with the hot orange tea. The tea is mild and light with very authetic real honey offered. Pizza has diced lamb on it and really crispy and tastyï¼The only pity is the oh boy sandwich size...too small...I am really fond of the blue corn chips of that. Just in a word, tomato head is a mustï¼
(5)
Kelly E.

We stopped in for some take-out, while driving through Knoxville. I got the Jose Jose burrito. It was very good. Seasoned tofu, brown rice, hummus, spinach, cheese, peppers, olives...yum! I also got an Italian wedding cupcake which was delicious. Fast, friendly service. I'll definitely come back next time in Knoxville.
(4)
Neal C.

Had a pepperoni calzone, which was very tasty. The service was very friendly and helpful, and was patient as I deliberated, making suggestions, etc. There was plenty of sauce, cheese, and meat; and the price was reasonable as well. The vibe makes this place special though-- as it has a local/organic feel to it. You definitely don't think it's a typical corporate pizza chain.
(4)
John D.

Awesomely creative food. Not much on the menu is boring/predictable. The vegetarian options are plentiful (and delicious), but they mostly have options to add meat instead of tofu, etc. The pizza is good, but I find that the rest of the menu, sandwiches, soups, salads, burritos, quesadillas, is where the really best items are. Also, great selection of beers. Weekend brunch is another highlight.
(4)
Scott W.

Great pizza! We had the lamb sausage & sundried tomato pizza with southwest salad. Fresh ingredients all around. Friendly staff with lots of beverage options.
(4)
Chasity S.

I went to Tomato Head for lunch last week with my husband. We got our food in a reasonable amount of time since they had to bake mine. I ordered a gluten free personal size pizza and my husband got a sandwich. It was good food, we spent $26 plus tip for a sandwich, personal pizza, diet coke, water, and one gluten free cookie. I felt we may have spent a little much for that, but it was a gluten free lunch for me. It's a "hipster" type atmosphere place on Market Square. The pizza was good, but the cookie had a wierd little bitter, after taste (I'm assuming from what ever sweetener they used). Overall, good!
(3)
Chad C.

Had the chorizo enchilada ... Chorizo, grits, mole sauce... Very nice blend of flavors
(4)
Jennifer T.

Having been on a cross-country road trip for almost a month, I decided on a vegetarian place for Mother's Day after many rich, heavy meals. My mom, the health nut, loved this place, and so did I! We ordered: (1) Large Tuna Salad with Honey Mustard dressing: romaine lettuce, broccoli, tuna, artichoke hearts, mushroom, red onion, cucumber, tomato, black olive, carrot, green pepper, red cabbage, and sprouts. Hello! I love a salad with an abundance of toppings! (2) Roger, Roger sandwich on wheat: hummous, fresh spinach, organic baked tofu, green and red pepper, banana pepper, green olive, Monterrey jack cheese, heated with pickle and potato chips. (3) Tuscan chicken sandwich on wheat: free farmed chicken, pesto, Monterrey jack cheese, sun dried tomato, mayo, heated with pickle and blue corn chips. Both the sandwiches and the salad were delicious. The sandwiches were very flavorful; of course they were -- look at everything inside them! I also liked how you could substitute potato chips for blue corn chips. Oh, and great portion for price! The servers were friendly. The restaurant was well decorated and clean. It was situated in a lovely plaza. I have nothing bad to say about this place.
(5)
Scott C.

Fast, impeccable service and delicious food. Some of the best pizza I've ever had. The menu is slightly confusing but waitress was very helpful. One minor quibble...They had a dirty bathroom. But the place was busy and it could have been just one inconsiderate person causing it.
(5)
Daniel P.

This was actually my favorite meal during a 3-day work trip to Knoxville. My pizza was super fresh, delicious and piping hot. Portion sizes were generous. Server was super attentive and prompt. I sat in the small outdoor patio area, overlooking the activity of Market Square. It actually was some of the best pizza I'd had in a while! (granted I was starving after just finishing an 8-mile run).
(5)
Betty C.

We enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and the great food that you can always count on at Tomato Head. We are so pleased that they opened in the Gallery since it is so much easier for us to get to. We make a point of eating there at least twice a week. Brunch is our favorite! Very reasonable and always a treat.
(5)
Aaron J.

One of my favorite places to eat at, period. The fresh, organic ingredients and unique menu items set this place apart. The pizzas are great. They don't come out like your typical pizza. These pizzas aren't caked with cheese and grease, which I don't have a problem with that kind of pizza, but it has it's own place. The sandwiches are what makes this place shine. They combine ingredients to come up with amazing, flavorful sandwiches. Try the Kepner, but with chicken instead of the tofu. That is one of my favorite sandwiches ever. I also recommend the Oh Boy! and the Cheddar Head. The atmosphere is a great. I love the chill vibe that's set with the minimalism and art on the walls. The crowd is as diverse as the menu. You'll find hipsters, college kids, families, suits, and everything in between in here and everyone coexists perfectly over the beer and food. The atmosphere is the best around. The TH has a great selection of wine and draft beer to wash everything down with and some of the best sweets to end a meal that I've ever encountered.
(5)
Lisa P.

Just had Sunday brunch here, food was wonderful! I think they call it a tartine...toast with hummus, curried cauliflower, Moroccan carrots (?) and raisins... Yummy! And a side of the BEST bacon...service was great, ambience is open, a little loud but in a nice way. Everyone was happy with the meals, highly recommended! For what it is, very casual dining in a homey atmosphere, loved it!
(5)
Mark B.

One of our favorite places to eat in Knoxville.
(5)
Joey D.

Tomato Head is a Knoxville staple. The food is always delightful and the ambiance is great, especially when the weather is nice. The patio is in prime position to watch the happenings in market square. Everything I have ever had there has been great, and I highly recommend going on Sunday morning. The brunch ain't too shabby.
(5)
Pescetarian N.

Nom Nom! ^__^ I have been coming to this place since I was a teenager. It's one of those places that smells and tastes like the 90's. Maybe it's just me being reminded of youth... So now for something useful! If you are Vegetarian or Vegan you will adore this place. If you're not, you'll probably still like it okay. Tomato Head mostly deals in the realm of pizza and sandwiches. The pizzas are pretty good but don't expect them to be huge, cheesy, and New York style.They offer a plethora of unique and fresh toppings. Everything tastes like it's fresh from the garden or, in the case of dairy, fresh from the cow or goat teet. The sandwiches are very tasty. Again... FRESH. I suggest the Vegan w/ baked tofu. Even if you're not a vegan it's still yummy! Tomato Head offers unique daily specials. For example: Burrito stuffed with cheese, cheese grits, fresh spinach, onions, and red pepper. ZOMG. I stress FRESHNESS. The salads are great... and Fresh. The soups are wonderful... and Fresh. The hummus is fresh... and over garliced... I'd skip that. Do not leave without dessert. I know my friends rave about the Peanut Butter Pie but I suggest trying the Cobbler of the Day. Tomato Head is located in Market Square, which is a cute commons-like area tucked into downtown. There is shopping and entertainment surrounding the restaurant. There is also a breezy outside seating area that allows you to enjoy the feel of Market Square.
(4)
Liz D.

Always good food and friendly service---very decent rotating beer selection as well.
(5)
Lynn C.

This was our second visit to tomato head. They have remodeled and it is quite an improvement. They have a wide variety of vegetarian and vegan entrees. I am not vegetarian or vegan but i really appreciate fresh ingredients, great salads, breads, and iced tea! I would definitely return.
(5)
Jaime S.

Where the EFF did this place come from and why isn't there one in Chicago? So I am strolling around the market as I am prone to do during my lunch break, and I see a sign that says "Accidentally on Purpose" Enchilada special. Normally, I'm not really down with enchilada but my colleague stopped me and said he wanted to try it. I consult what it says: -Goat cheese- -spinach- -organic and local squash- -organic and local red peppers- -andouille or soy sausage- -black beans- -apple salsa- -mole- -crema- ARE YOU FOR REALZ? I have been dreaming of gourmet inexpensive Mexican since Rick Bayless' shining moments on Top Chef Masters all summer. Heck yes I'm gonna eat it and not surprisingly love it. this restaurant has vegan, veg, and carnivorous options as well as amazing looking sweets. I'm officially on the Tomato Head wagon.
(5)
Eva V.

On my trip to Knoxville, I wasn't expecting vegan options. I figured I'd be living off a lot of modified orders for the rest of my stay, until my boyfriend's family mentioned Tomato Head. We saved this gem until the last night of my stay, and it was so worth the wait. I figured as far as vegan food would go, they'd have one or maybe even two vegan options, but no no no! They had a lot of options, and they all looked so frickin' delicious! I started off my dinner with a small veggie chef salad. Delicious, and so inventive! Who says veg people can't have chef-esque salads! Then, I just about wet my pants when I saw their menu and heard that they use Follow Your Heart cheese upon request. Sure, we big city folks have moved on to Daiya, but FYH is a close second in deliciousness. My boyfriend and I split a pesto, herbed tomato, and sundried tomato pizza with vegan cheese topping. This was decidedly one of the best vegan pizzas I've ever had-- and in Tennessee no less! The cheese was perfectly melted and the pesto was wonderfully seasoned. If this place existed in LA, I'd be here once a month for sure! The icing on the cupcake was just that-- vegan cupcakes! We split a profoundly delicious cupcake and called it a night. Now I know what my itinerary is going to look like the next time I go to Knoxville: 1) Unpack 2) Meet and greet John's family 3) Eat at Tomato Head 4) Repeat #3 until satisfied
(5)
Adrianna L.

Very nice place to eat salads and sandwiches! If you are visiting this place in very busy hours you should expect your plate after 30 minutes. The bathroom is not very clean, but at least the food and the ingredients are amazing. I love eat in the patio while my dog is watching people.
(5)
Taylor M.

This place has the best vegan pizza I have ever had. It has a pretty hipster vibe and is in a really nice area in Knoxville.
(5)
molly q.

I love this place! They have something for every dietary need, and it is all really satisfying. I highly recommend the salads, their dressings are delicious! The service is very friendly and the atmosphere is casual, bright and comfortable for conversation.
(5)
Heather H.

LOVE! I moved from K-town but every visit back, I MUST stop in and have a sammie with their blue chips and a coffee. This has always been a fave. The staff is great! Vegan and vegi friendly. Heart you Market Square and Tomato Head.
(5)
Matthew C.

It's been over two months since I ate at The Tomato Head at Knoxville's Market Square. I was back at my cousin's wedding in Knoxville and looking for some fresh, vegan food. I'm from Northern California, Oakland to be exact, and so I'm accustomed to fresh vegetarian and vegan menu options. I was somewhat worried that I wouldn't find something healthful and tasty. My cousin recommended The Tomato Head and I still recall my two meals there. On Sunday for dinner I had the Baked Tofu Salad. It was served on a bed of very fresh, tender spinach and other vegetables, and the tofu was nicely seasoned. The next day I returned for lunch and ordered the Vegan Sandwich. It was hearty, flavorful, and the freshly baked bread was as good as the bread (Arizmendi Cooperative on Lakeshore Avenue, Acme Baking Co.) that I enjoy here at home. The restaurant was informal but comfortable, and the waiters were courteous. (It's the South after all, so I guess that's taken for granted there.) On both visits the food arrived without much of a wait. The diners at the surrounding tables seemed content with their food as well. I was torn between three and four stars because the restaurant didn't have a larger selection of vegan dishes, but they offered to make a pizza without cheese, and that's worth a lot...at least another star.
(4)
Noel L.

I have ate here time after time and never been disappointed. There are two locations, one in Market Square downtown Knoxville and the other in downtown Maryville. The Maryville location is less crowded and much more spacious, You can expect to wait at the Knoxville location but you can order a beer while you wait so all is good in the world! The menu holds a little bit of everything; breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner. For breakfast/brunch I always get the Belgian Waffle because I love sweet breakfasts but the Huevos Rancheros and Biscuits and Gravy...#winning Lunch and Dinner: Of course there is pizza, and it's great! We always get Benton's bacon as a topping because Benton's bacon is the best is zaaa worrrlllld! I love that the crust is slightly thin and has a crunch letting me know it's done and not still doughy. Tomato Head also offers a variety of delish sandwiches which range from meaty like the "Oh Boy" which has chicken & bacon on it to vegetarian and hummus pitas. And then (yes there's more) Tomato Head also has scrumdiddlyumptious salads (my favorite is the Southwestern Chicken Salad) and then they hit you with the shocker of having burritos and quesadillas which are great too, just ask my husband, he's obsessed with the "Chicken Burrito" which sounds boring but it ain't...that's right I said ain't, so kill me. Appetizers: Get the "Black Bean Hummus" it has hummus, black beans, and sriracha sauce (sooooo good!) As for wait staff and service: Employees are young and full of energy. We have never been neglected but we have felt rushed at the Knoxville location a few times and I know it's because of the wait list and people really wanting to eat so you can't fault them too much for that.
(4)
Susan C.

Excellent for Knoxville, considering offerings are rather slim in the organic, California fusion arena. I enjoyed a tasty Tuscan chicken sandwich on fresh-baked bread with jack cheese, pesto, tomatoes and mayo. My honey had a cheese melt sandwich which was okay. The highlight: a creative pasta salad. Normally one thinks of macaroni noodles with mayo and shredded carrots and onion and maybe chopped egg. Tomato Head's small version was especially generous: fluted pasta, broccoli, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, red onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, peppers, cabbage and sprouts -- and we chose a vinagrette bleu cheese dressing. Wow! Icy cold and good to the last bite. The restaurant offers traditional and CA-style pizzas with pesto, portobello mushrooms, salmon, feta cheese and soy cheese among the offerings. There's hummus and veggies and sprouts and sundried tomatoes to please the palate of vegetarians. Atmosphere could be a little more cozy with a free-standing electric fireplace, some rugs, more private booths and additional artwork, yet the food and prices and service were good. You order at the bar, and servers bring the meal to your table.
(4)
Ryan S.

I've been to this restaurant a few times and every time, I leave very happy and satisfied. The last time I ate here is after a UT football game. It was fairly late and it was about half full. We were waited on very quickly and our waiter was extremely friendly. Our food came out fast and it was one of the best pizzas I've ever had. Perfect in my book. This restaurant is perfect for people who like different and crazy toppings on their pizza each time. I'm more of a light cheese / lots of pepperoni guy, but I like that they have LOTS of options. They also have sandwiches, calzones, and salads, but I can't vouch for any of those. I have never brought one here, but I think it would be the perfect place for a first or second date. It's a nice restaurant without being too cheesy (pun intended). I also like the hipster ambiance in there. It feels very comfortable even though I only have a very little bit of hipster in me. I will keep coming back.
(5)
David L.

Nicely done. Pizza was first-rate, salads were fresh, tasty and well-prepared with inventive dressings. I hear they're slammed on weekends, so go early, or stick to M-T.
(4)
Scott W.

Ordered the hummus And fresh vegetables for an appetizer. Then had the number one pizza and added basil ricotta. Both the food and service were great. Friendly atmosphere but can be kind of loud. Not recommended if you're looking for a quiet place. But definitely worth checking out.
(4)
Amanda M.

First time at Tomato Head been wanting to try it for a while.. Staff is amazingly friendly.. Food was fantastic! I had a Kepner Melt which was delicious and a Vegan Chocolate Mocha cupcake! The frosting is a little sweet on the cupcake but the cake part was so good I could have had 4! for someone who is a wanna be vegan/vegetarian I honestly did not miss meat at all in this meal.. Completely amazing!
(5)
Tara S.

I've only had very, very good food here. The pizza and sandwiches are great, and there's usually a daily special that appeals to me as well. I have a difficult time branching out and not ordering my regulars/favorites: the Oh Boy sandwich (chicken, spinach, Benton's bacon, sundried toms & poppyseed dressing) or the #3 pizza (lamb sausage, olives, capers, herbed tomatoes). It can be REALLY annoying in here if it's crowded, but the food is so good I don't care. They have good cookies and positively Satanic peanut butter pie.
(5)
Monica S.

I ate lunch here on my one day in Knoxville, and IT. WAS. DELICIOUS. I had one slice of plain cheese pizza and one slice of "Number Four," which is white pizza with no sauce at all and a few different cheeses. I also had a coke, and all of this cost me less than six dollars. Score! Both pizzas were delicious, and I'm glad I went at lunchtime -- they won't let you buy just a slice at dinner, and I really wanted to try both! They had what might be the best crust ever, and just the right amount of cheese. I don't know how any of the other foods are, but the pizza is spot-on.
(5)
Nikki K.

After the Morrissey concert at the Tennesse Theatre, and a long night out on the town, we woke up the next day hungry and feeling the effects of our consumption. The first place mentioned by my local friends was Tomato Head. And I love them for it! Located in oh-so charming market cute square in downtown Knoxville, this restaurant was bustling with waiters, frantically delivering food and taking orders. Warning- do not stand in front of the door! You might get whacked! After getting my food I realized why this place was so busy- it's so damned good! My boyfriend and I got the vegan sandwich (tofu, sprouts, carrot shreds, tomatoes, and a lovely pesto sauce), and my sister Sam, Kelly, and Juan got the cheese head (just like the vegan sandwich only smothered in cheese.) you get a choice of local, fresh fruit as a side, or crispy chips and a pickle. Because this place is so small, seating can be a hassle. We had to stalk some people leaving to get their table. Sitting inside seemed a little warm so we were lucky to get a patio spot. From there, we enjoyed each other's company, our amazing food, and looking at the lovely square filled with people and vendors selling jewelry, baked goods, fresh fruit, and art.
(5)
Julia B.

Great lunch! Went here today - delicious, quick, reasonably priced, and a healthier choice than most. I did the salad and slice lunch special. Salad is one of the best 'basic' lunch salads I have had in quite awhile. Delicious variety of lettuce, sprouts, tomato slices, olives, cucumber slices, green peppers, onions, with their delicious house basil vinaigrette. The dressing was very flavorful - not your usual bland vinaigrette - try it out! The slice of pizza was the perfect size and they had a TON to choose from. Also, their desserts are drool-worthy. I grabbed a few cookies to much on later. MUST TRY!
(5)
Chuck C.

Good, but I hate downtown and would never go. Try the new West location. It's just as good.
(5)
Kristen M.

One of the best sandwiches I've ever had was eaten at Tomato Head! Also got a apple walnut cupcake to go and it was wonderful! My boyfriend and I stopped by on the way to Pigeon Forge based on Yelp reviews and I'm sooooo glad we did. Hope to come back one day!!
(5)
Ryan L.

9" pizza: $5.55 gluten-free upcharge: $4 Asinine. An extra buck or two for gluten free crust is acceptable, but to charge roughly 70% more for this option is just ridiculous. Not only that, it just wasn't good. Totinos party pizzas tasted better than this. Better gluten-free pizza options in Knoxville: everywhere. Mellow mushroom, Brixx, and now even Dominos absolutely destroy this place for this option. Also, when I'm walking in to the restaurant and I hold the door open for one of the staff members carrying a tray full of drinks, it's not hard to say thank you or at least smile and nod. Jerk. The only highlight was the waitress. She was polite.
(2)
Angela K.

This food here is great, although the ambiance is not much better than a warehouse. I got the southwestern salad, and would not shut up about how good it was. My husband's dinner was the chicken, portobello and pesto pizza and that was also yummy. We also split the black bean hummus which was amazing. Definitely the best food we had in Knoxville!
(4)
Dale L.

I've been to Tomato Head several times, and it gets 4 stars simply for being a unique to the Knoxville area, which is fairly slim on local restaurants with 'fresh' ingredients. Tomato Head's main thing is pizza, which is good, but not great. The California-style fresh toppings are what make the pizza here, however, the pizza sauce is bland, and the crust is nothing to write home about. Most of the sandwiches are good. You can't go wrong with the 'Oh Boy', which includes the wonderful local Benton's Bacon, which I believe has the power to convert a vegetarian to a carnivore in one bite. The burritos, on the other hand, are bland. They have all of the right ingredients, homemade tortilla shell, black beans, goat cheese, etc., but are dry as a bone.\ I have only had the breakfast a couple of times, and it's good, however, when Tupelo Honey Cafe (Asheville, NC) moves in across the Square, it will give Tomato Head a run for its money... The atmosphere is satisfying - slightly Eclectic with local art for sale on the walls. I wouldn't recommend taking large parties here because of the tight fit.
(4)
Laura M.

Great patio. Food is fresh local and downright amazing. Try the pesto and the hummus. Wish they would table serve during lunch hours. Best restaurant on the square hands down!
(5)
Solomon L.

Probably one of the most creative food places in Knoxville. It reminds me a little bit of the organic hippie restaurants from my Berkeley days. It seems to me like it suffers a little bit from food schizophrenia/multiple personality disorder. If you were to pin me down and ask me what kind of food they served, I'd say..... vegamexitalian? Still not sure.... Whatever they do serve they cook well with good ingredients. No complaints there. I do think the place is disproportionately popular relative to the quality, service, and restaurant size. Would recommend trying at least once.
(4)
Natasha G.

I stopped here with my dad for lunch after my sister recommended it to me, and now I wish I either lived closer or they would open up a new location in Raleigh! Here I had one of the best southwestern chicken salads I've ever had. And it tasted so fresh and on the healthier side (considering what I had ordered). Also, the location is just perfect, located right in the middle of market square, with pleasant outdoor seating. I wish I could go back!
(5)
Vance C.

Well, we are from Asheville and this place is def not an Asheville restaurant. Its seem they try to be but just not quite there. The food was good and can't complain there. The server did very well. It just was missing something and I can't quite put my finger on it. Just asked my wife and we will be going back there when we come back to Knoxville and she said NO! Great location though!
(3)
Michelle V.

Good service, fun casual atmosphere. And the food was really good - I was skeptical but the popularity of Tomato Head is definitely warranted. Nicely eclectic menu and everything our large group ordered was good, from the hummus to the salads to the pizzas. A fun place to go, and I estimate it'd take me many, many visits before I got sick of this place. If I'm ever in Knoxville again, and not with a big group, I really want to try that pizza with garlic on it, it sounded tasty. Just not something I want to eat when I'm with a group. The prices were also reasonable. The only downer of the night was when we asked for desserts, and she suggested a vegan cupcake. Vegan cupcake as your main dessert offering? Blech. They let you call ahead an hour and put your name on the list. So easy and when we arrived, our table was ready immediately. They didn't rush us at all, despite the hungry hordes eyeing our large group and willing us to leave. Really nice service.
(4)
Brittany F.

We've visited Tomato Head a few times for both breakfast and lunch. Tomato Head is consistently fresh and tasty. Lots of different options that include sandwiches, salads, pizzas, burritos, etc. Very veggie and vegan friendly. Definitely worth stopping in for brunch or lunch!
(4)
Rolla Q.

Eclectic pizza joint. Organic and earth oriented for the conservation eater. Interesting flavors, but not remarkable. But one of the few joints on the square we did not have to wait a long time to get in and prices were reasonable.
(3)
Erika S.

I eat here about once a week and I have never had a bad meal here. They have the best hummus that I've ever had. I try to take care of my body and eating at tomato head doesn't feel like a deviation from that. Their menu offers a broad range of choices for all palates and lifestyles. My personal favorites include: anything with their basil vinaigrette (my favorite dressing in the world), tuscan chicken sandwich, and their chef salad. Their daily specials and soup of the day are always wonderful, unique choices. If you are visiting knoxville, it's a must stop!
(5)
Nate S.

The food was great... The hummus was perfect and the #8 pizza was excellent, however, the service was downright rude. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone I liked!
(3)
Kristina M.

My husband and I were on a one-way road trip and chose to stay the night in Knoxville. We were staying right on the square and after a day of driving, we didn't want to go far. Fortunately, the square is populated with tons of restaurants. Thanks to Yelp reviews, we chose Tomato Head. Thank you, Yelp! Tomato Head was fantastic. I only wish it were Knoxville we were moving to and not MD! Based on previous reviews we ordered the hummus. I was skeptical. Honestly, how good could hummus be? How wrong I was. It is the best hummus I've ever had and I fear it has spoiled me for all future hummus. I mean what's the point any more? The bar has been set too high! I ordered the goat cheese sandwich with the soup of the day, Artichoke and Bleu Cheese. The soup was amazing. It was so complex and delicious. I honestly wish I had just ordered a giant bowl of it. The goat cheese sandwich was great. It was exactly what it was billed to be, but I found it too rich. This is definitely my preference and no fault of the sandwich. My husband ordered the everything pizza and said it was great. Fantastic place. I wish I were closer and I would eat there all the time.
(5)
Michael L.

I don't understand the hype. Maybe I was there on an off day. Service was friendly, but I was severely underwhelmed by the food. My $4+ slice of pizza was literally the smallest slice I've ever gotten (especially for that price). Came with sun dried tomatoes, lamb sausage and a few other things, but it was underwhelming. The crust was fine, the sauce was okay, and the toppings were mediocre. Also tried their ginger sweet potato soup which had a tad too much ginger and no sweet potato flavor whatsoever. I'd give it another chance if I were back in the area, but i wouldn't wait for a table.
(2)
Peter K.

Went here for dinner while in town for a moe. concert, thoroughly enjoyed my meal. Would go back.
(4)
Aubrey D.

Tomato Head is a best bet for a casual, yummy lunch, or dinner. It was of the first places I ate when I lived in Knoxville. I generally stuck with the same simple order: The goat cheese sandwich which is goat cheese, pesto, and sundried tomatoes on toasted bread. Delicious! The bread is fresh baked, so that adds to the tastiness. I also like their house salad with extra feta dressing. I crave that dressing! You really can't go wrong with whatever you try here. A lot of love is put into it. I've had consistently a good experience with the cookies, brownies, and other treats, too. The atmosphere is arty and airy. They always have some interesting local art along with hipster servers. Know that for lunch during the week you have to order at the counter. Otherwise you'll be sitting at a table feeling like an idiot!
(4)
J F.

The toppings are fine, but the crust tasted like it didn't have enough salt or something. I can't recommend a pizza with crust this bad. The rest of the menu looked OK. Every college town needs a place like this, though. Especially in Tennessee.
(2)
Niambi M.

This was a welcome oasis amid the vegan wasteland I found myself in while in Knoxville for travel with my enthusiastically carnivorous co-workers. Arriving on a Sunday afternoon, I got settled into my hotel then wandered over to Tomato Head on Market Square to see if it was as good as people said online. Walking into the bustling (but not overwhelming) restaurant, I was impressed with the smells and sights that I saw a the tables around I decided to go for it and order a pizza. I started with the #1: Herbed tomato, sun-dried tomatoes & pesto with no cheese (I wasn't confident the soy cheese was vegan so I skipped it this go-round) and a house salad to get things going. Great fresh flavors on a pipping hot pizza pie--the portion sized worked very well for me. not satisfied with pigging out on linner (lunch/dinner), i got a couple of vegan cupcakes to go EXCELLENT! I immediately took note that the menu was diverse enough that even my veggie-phobic work brethren would be comfortable and order to their hearts delight. the following day, We all went to Tomato Head for lunch---and T H E Y suggested going back two more times!! *Unprecedented in Department History* If ever again I find myself in Knoxville,I will make a beeline to Tomato Head for a few sweet moments of respite from the grimy road food that tends to fuel the average road warrior.
(5)
Mary T.

I have never had a bad meal here. Service is usually good. They are usually busy and there is a slight wait. Sundays are good for brunch because they have an omelette station etc. I always enjoy the greek salad. They have the best pesto in town! I usually order a container of pesto to take home. The tomato head sandwich is one of my favorites. I have yet to order something that I did not enjoy. Check it out!
(5)
Aaron S.

Tomato head is a classic Knoxville restaurant. Everything on the menu is pretty tasty--you won't find a bad morsel here! You had better be prepared to wait if you come during the dinner rushes or during lunch. The place is extremely popular! Service here has always been friendly and quick. If you come during lunch, keep in mind that its seat yourself.
(4)
Ben B.

This place was well worth the wait. From all of the fresh ingredients and the awesome smells coming from the kitchen and the waffle station was enough for me right off the bat. They offer an extensive menu that can please the meatiest of the meat eaters to the healthiest of the vegetarians while also offering some of my favorite beers on tap. Not to mention some of their fantastic desserts, we got a cookie to go and it tasted as good as it smelled. Will def visit this place next time in Knoxville.
(5)
Robert M.

Food is good. A little high price but because its a mom and pop pizza. Friendly staff.. Not a lot of seating area, but worth the wait!
(4)
Leonard M.

We got there 30 min before closing. Our waiter Trevor was a great guy. Even though we were his last table of the day he did not rush us. He suggested some awesome pizzas for my wife and I. You have to try the bacon and ask for Trevor! The best bacon ever just wanted to say try the bacon!
(5)
Tanner Tanning R.

Let me preface my review by saying if I cared about organic food or was a vegetarian I'd probably think Tomato Head was awesome. If awesome meant fresh ingredients standing alone on a plate with minimal seasoning- some people do think that's awesome. Honestly I have had better. I thought the food was bland. We came for brunch which I've had dozens of people tell me is the best in town. "Worth the wait" I've been told. No doubt about it you will have to wait on Sunday morning. The coffee was good. Our server was good. We had two different preparations of huevos rancheros. (Another preface- I grew up in the Southwest and huevos rancheros is completely different there than in east TN. My idea of huevos rancheros is a spicy wake me up and I've never gotten anything spicy here). So let's give some credit where it is due- that the eggs were nice and soft and the tortillas toasted. The apple salsa was very good and unique! The dishes looked great with all of the ingredients stacked, but the stack made them difficult to eat. Our dishes supposedly had cheese in them which I never saw nor tasted. One plate had chicken that was tender but completely flavorless. The other plate had chorizo and almost all of the flavor came from the chorizo. Since I was the one who ordered chicken (and only got to sample the chorizo) I was underwhelmed. For the amount if time we spent getting dressed, driving downtown and waiting in line I think next Sunday I'll stay in my pj's and cook up something at home.
(3)
Bryan C.

Wow, so many choices in Market Square. How do you decide? I went by smell. The fresh smells coming out of this place were loaded with garlic and fresh bread. Two things I have never been afraid of. I got a turkey melt which seems simple enough. However there is some sophistication happening on this thing. I love it when a place puts a little work in to something familiar. The fresh baked goods, humus, and sandwich rolls and breads that are made fresh daily are just the beginning. If you are in Knoxville and looking for a great lunch, look no further. You just found it.
(4)
Paul S.

Came in town and immediately went to Market Square for Lunch. It had been a minute since I'd been to Knoxville but I knew where I wanted to eat first. The line on a Sunday morning tells you how great the food is. We waited for an hour and it was well worth the wait. I had the Roast beef Sandwich which was pretty good. The Gorgonzola Sauce is what makes that sandwich amazing though. I've had the Goat Cheese Sandwich which I highly recommend. My Girlfriend had the Carmen: Spinach, Chorizo, and grits, topped with cilantro and a spice apple salsa. Damn. The salsa made the dish giving it a sweet but spicy accent. She won for best dish. The Tomato Head is the restaurant in Knoxville. The food scene here just doesn't stand up to much and The Head is where it's at. We got two Cookies to Go and had them later in the day. YES! Try to the baked goods...
(4)
Nick A.

Great pizza. Staff is killer. Prices are low.
(5)
Joe 'Joe T' T.

I love that the food is always fresh! Today I had the tuscan chicken with goat cheese with a side of fruit. Healthy and Delicious!
(5)
Lana S.

Who doesn't love Tomato Head?? Great pizzas, salads, sandwiches and really good beer and wine!!! It's a Knoxville staple. If you are in town for a moment or live here it's a must to check out the Tomato Head on Market Square. You will not be disappointed! I love the Greek salad, the Kepner Melt...and more!! I've been going to the Tomato Head since I moved to Knoxville nearly 10 years ago and I've never been disappointed. Cheers!
(5)
Amanda C.

Southwestern Chicken Salad is a great choice if you are not in the mood for pizza. The black beans were so tasty! The large salad was just enough to make me feel full but not overly stuffed! Also, they have Marble City Beer! The amber was great!
(5)
Tim P.

Get the #14 pizza and the warm bacon salad...perfection.
(5)
Scott H.

Service is kind of slow when they're busy but overall the food and service is spectacular. Very popular on Saturdays, but worth the wait.
(4)
Summer S.

Everything I've tried there tasted good. Nice hang out place for an evening out.
(5)
Richard L.

My favorite place to eat in town. Stop reading and go eat. There will be a wait but there's a reason for the wait. Everybody else knows it's great too. Or you can go have something subpar across the square. Your choice.
(5)
amanda w.

This is my favorite restaurant in Knoxville. There will be a line if you get there at typical meal hours, but it is worth it. The place is REALLY noisy at lunchtime because of the cafeteria-style ordering and serving system, but it switches to regular sit down and order for dinner. Their tuna sandwich is SO GOOD. I get it every time. I know I should try something new but I crave it every time I go there. And the pesto with dipping bread appetizer is delicious. I think everything here is delicious. I would eat here more if I wasn't a po' college student. It is often referred to as a yuppie place or a hippie joint but those people have no idea what they are missing out on with the fresh, local, quality food.
(5)
Mary P.

This place is fantasmagical. I enjoyed the Market square as a first timer. As I walked into the cozy setting of Tomato Head I knew I'd picked a good choice. I enjoyed the egg rolls which are essentially pizza rolls minus the tomato sauce, instead scrambled eggs and meat give it a breakfast like taste. It still really tasted like pizza almost. I also enjoyed the spicy ketchup on the side.
(5)
Shruti M.

Pizza was delicious: got a slice of 13 and 14. Worth the wait.
(5)
Mike P.

Knoxville was our last stop on a five day trip to NOLA to drop off our daughter at school and having a younger kid with us pizza was a must. The location is great - Knoxville is very user friendly downtown. The pizza is not your normal NY pizza and that's good. Crust is not the best but oh my when you get their specials it works and works well. Everything was fresh (salads are a must here and the dressings are a great twist on old favorites). Would love to be able to try the tofu dishes but went meaty. All in all a wonderful funky little place with a great staff - and cold beer!
(4)
Richard F.

Great food with a fun atmosphere. Kepler and oh boy sandwiches were out of this world. Bit noisy at lunch but that just adds to the fun. Staff was very helpful.
(5)
Desiree L.

Yummy Yummy Healthy food that is so delicious! Ooooh how I like this place it was vegan and healthy before it was popular. I like their pizza here hmmm
(5)
Christina D.

My favorite restaurant in knoxville. Most every thing is Organic and there are many vegetarian and vegan options. The tahini and bread is my favorite there. Along with the best key lime pie you will find in knoxville. They also have an array of cupcakes. Sit on the patio to have a great meal and people watch.
(5)
Emily H.

Fantastic sandwiches, reasonably priced, great atmosphere. We were driving from Nashville, TN to Richmond, VA and Yelp directed us toward vegan food at Tomato Head. I ordered a special jerk tempeh sandwich and my boyfriend ordered the Vegan sandwich with side salad. Their vegan pesto and salad dressings are insane. I will be back someday!
(5)
Jamie D.

Oh another pizza review - how I love u! Soy cheese - check Variety - check Cool decor - check Oh, the pizza! We had the #14 fresh spinach, red onion, Roma tomato, kalamata olive, banana pepper, feta cheese, fresh oregano & organic baked tofu or andouille sausage large for $24.90 (we did half and half on the tofu and sausage) Considering the crust is somewhere between thin and hand tossed, this is a little pricey. However, the flavors that invaded every receptor in your mouth was addicting. So addicting, we had to order another of the same once guests joined us. We also had the hummus app with pita bread. Another YUM moment. I learned through my stay in Knoxville that weekend; that many local farms sell products to Tomato Head. That is what gives this pizza that unique fresh and tantalizing flavor! Their menu has so many wonderful items to choose from. The chocolate peanut butter cheese cake was soooooooooooo goood with its oreo crust! Also, the outside sitting area was amazing. There are musicians that play in the outdoor restaurant area and the people watching is super fun! I suggest this place for a laid-back fun evening out with friends. My intentions are to run the gamut on this menu. See ya in two weeks -Tomato Head!
(4)
Belle B.

unimpressed. maybe high expectations ruin everything.
(2)
kristen m.

This is a nostalgia review, because the hubby and I moved away from Knoxville last summer. That said, I guarantee that there is no "absence-makes-the-heart-grow-fonder" going on here, because I couldn't be any more fond of Tomato Head than I already am. Oh man, my mouth is watering just thinking about it. We were Sunday brunch regulars. Don't miss the Huevos special if you go - but be sure to add cheese grits to the order if they're not already part of the delicious mix. And for lunch, well, I cannot even begin to describe how delicious the Cheddar Head sandwich is. And of course, the staff are all so friendly and helpful. We went from a pair of childless, lingering diners to slightly-frazzled parents with babe in tow, and our needs were always met and then some. And finally - this review would not be complete without a mention of the vegan chocolate chip cookies!! Oh my. Better even than the regular chocolate chip, which are already fantastic. Tomato Head, I miss you so. I think it's high time that you branch out... maybe your next location could be in Austin?!?
(5)
Austin R.

This place really is great. Their menu is extensive but not overwhelmingly so, and they always have some sort of creative delicious special as well. The prices are good for the portions you get and there's plenty of freedom to mix and match as you like. For instance, last night I got a cup of the tasty tomato fennel soup with a side salad and then added roasted mushrooms and roasted garlic to the salad from the pizza toppings. It turned out well especially with the tahini dressing on top, one of about ten dressings they offer. On top of the great food, there's a really enjoyable atmosphere to the place that seems to be a combination of the employees' friendliness and the type of crowd the restaurant draws. For specific menu recommendations: the mole that they serve for brunch and sometimes as a special is a really complex flavor and very unique, most of the sandwiches have really solid flavors combinations going on, and the baked goods are, on the whole, outstanding. The chocolate coconut cupcake was top notch and all the cookies I've ever tried have been delicious as well. Overall, The Tomato Head churns out consistently satisfying food with enough of a twist on it that the experience is never boring. The restaurant remains a longstanding, unique dining option, keeping the food scene in downtown Knoxville interesting.
(5)
Super S.

Good vegetarian selections. Tofu sandwich was good, but the pizza looked better.
(4)
Liam P.

One of my favorite places to eat in Knoxville. They use organic locally grown vegetables and their pizzas are really good. I would suggest to anyone to try the Lucy sandwich even if you don't like vegetarian food.
(5)
Spencer R.

Loved the atmosphere, menu and prices. Very busy place and I can see why. We ate here several times over a weeklong trip in Knoxville, and we just loved it. You can't beat the price really, and I live that so many ingredients are local and healthy. Our little kids enjoyed it, too. I hope to return some day!
(5)
John H.

Great pizza, helpful staff. Heard that I should avoid the burritos/quesadillas and stick with pizza and sandwiches, and I was not disappointed.
(5)
Anna B.

Wow. Let me first say, this place is a Knoxville must. Ask anyone- Tomato Head has specialty pizzas, and any real Knoxvillian has been there. This pizza/vegetarian joint is located in th heart of Knoxville, Market Square. When you go to Tomato Head, you can easily make a night out of the great shops and dessert places lining the square. Be careful- weekend nights are crowded and you'll find yourself crammed into their little entryway, picking up a Metro Pulse to keep busy while you wait. Announcements line the walls, advertising concerts and shows and things for kids. The place is loud and crowded- tables are always filled every time of day. The crowd that comes is so diverse- from the hippies to the TVA employees just down the street decked out in suits, to the families with multiple kids to the couple coming down for date night. The atmosphere and food pleases all, with smiling, pleased faces leaving every time. The waiters and waitresses are always rushed- the travel around the tables a million miles an hour- but they always have time to smile and make you feel welcome. The place itself has the most wonderful charm- high ceilings, exposed piping, neutral colors, hardwood floors, and wooden tables. It has the loveliest green ceilings, that you don't notice at first but always notice it when you realize it. It is packed in- the eatery doesn't waste space. Navigating around tables is hard- and peoples are always rushing around you. You'll walk in and be a bit put back, at first. It is intimidating first site. It is incredibly noisy, with people chatting and talking and holding small meetings with colleagues. It is crowded too, and more than likely you'll find yourself pushing to see a waiter/waitress. But it all adds to the effect- you really see Knoxville. They'll seat you and ask for your drink order- they have drinks like Orangina and Izze, my personal favorite. They'll hand you your menu and you'll scan the famous pizza list, looking for a "cheese" or "pepperoni" pizza. NO. They have specialty pizzas- with ingredients that make you wrinkling your forehead and wondering how on earth that would all be good together. If you're in it for pizzas, get the #4. Cheese pizza- four types of cheeses, and NO SAUCE. Best stuff on earth. The slices are big, but not deep dish at all. They are consistent- same food every time. The ingredients taste fresh, too. I've never had the burritos, but I've heard they are good. The best sandwich is the Oh Boy (spelling?) sandwich. Yum. It's light as fast, but tingling with flavor. They have cupcakes and cookies to go, too. It's pretty amazing. The bottom line? If you want to feel Knoxville and get an amazing meal you won't expect, try the Tomato Head. Dissapointment is not an option.
(5)
Helen C.

I have always wanted to understand why so many people rave about this place. So far nothing I have eaten here has ever made me a Tomato Head convert. I would rate their food as standard, with too long a wait most of the time. There are much better places to eat in downtown Knoxville (at least according to my taste buds).
(2)
Scott L.

I don't get the hype, must be the location. Pizza, tried both cheese and pepperoni, was bland and forgettable. Every component, crust, cheese, sauce, meat was just, meh. I went there looking for great pizza which may have been a mistake. Seems they do other stuff better. Had a couple of bites of my wifes vegetarian sandwich (kepner melt) and it was way better than I could have imagined a freakin tofu sammich could be. Go figure. Service was good and friendly. My two cents, don't go for pizza, go for the Market Square location.
(2)
Michelle L.

You have goat cheese on a breakfast sandwich......Im already in love. I also love the eclectic gathering of different types of people, especially with the after church crowd juxtaposed against the more organic servers and workers (more my crowd). I love that they use organic locally grown produce, organic cage free eggs, and humanely raised meats.....this will definitely be somewhere I frequent. I had the breakfast sandwich with egg, local bacon, kalamata olives, and feta (forgetting the name of the sandwich) on a wheat bun.....it was delectable and probably the BEST breakfast sandwich I've had. The only thing that keeps me from giving 5 stars is that it took more time than I imagined (about 25-30 minutes) for two breakfast sandwiches with fruit to come out of the kitchen. Given that I just ate brunch last Sunday in Boston with a group of 5 people and our food (4 omelets and a breakfast sandwich) was out within 15 minutes, I was a little worried that the kitchen at Tomato Head had forgotten us. Alas, they did not and the wait was worth it for the quality of food we received.
(4)
Jamie C.

I love this place! Get the #2 pizza, it is my absolute favorite!
(5)
Laura c.

Had the vegan sammich, was very tasty! Service was perfectly acceptable, and the atmosphere was pretty typical to a laid-back, casual sandwich/pizza/salad joint. If you're vegan/vegetarian, this place is pretty good and has decent choices. I'll definitely be back, if I'm in town again.
(4)
Kim J.

Great pizza. I started going to this place when it first opened in 1990 as the FlyingTomato. We always enjoyed the gourmet pizza that you really couldn't get anywhere else in K-town. My mom and sister have been back and said it is still great.
(4)
Jay W.

The food deserves five stars, but the warehouse type layout makes for a little bit of uncomfortable dining experience. Pizza, and salads are top notch.
(4)
Spencer J.

Amazing food! I always leave full without feeling heavy. This is a MUST EAT place if you're visiting the area.
(5)
Jason S.

A little confusing the first time but well worth it! Order at the counter kinda joint. Very fresh ingredients. Creative daily selections. Also great vegetarian selection!
(5)
Michelle B.

Hands down the best restaurant in Knoxville. Sometimes there is a wait, but that is to be expected anywhere decent at prime times in this area. The food is vegan-friendly, gluten-free friendly, and also great for the typical carnivore! The breakfast selections are fabulous - I had the Eva, which is huevos rancheros with avocado, black beans, sausage, corn tortillas and mole, and I finished it off with a smooth, delicious cup of fair-trade coffee. My kids would eat there every day if we could - the pizzas, sandwiches and salads are always delicious and satisfying. Everything is fresh and made to order. Any wait is always worth it. Their gluten free pizza is the best I've ever had. The waitstaff is always friendly, efficient, and easy going.
(5)
Elizabeth M.

Awesome food. Great menu with lots of great veggie options! They have a nice wine & beer menu too, so its a nice place go with friends and hang out. This is my go-to place for out-of-town visitors, too.
(4)
Deborah M.

Fantastic food quality, good service and a restaurant where a meat eater and a vegetarian can dine together and not feel like one is compromising for the other. On top of that, my husband and I went in expecting a very expensive meal: Wine, app, two entrees and a dessert like that would have cost us nearly twice what our bill came to here back in Washington.
(5)
Jennifer S.

Best restaurant in Knoxville. Vegetarian dishes include a non-cheese protein (beans or tofu). Don't make the mistake of forgetting about the cobbler.
(5)
Abi T.

I think lots of my reviews probably feature meat. Kinda strange, since I was a vegetarian for 10 years. I've really fallen off the wagon hard, I guess. But Tomato Head is the kind of place I would have fallen to my knees and given thanks for if I was a traveling vegetarian. Tons of veggie and vegan options, even in the salad dressings and desserts. And just tons of quick, casual options in general; Pizza, Quesadillas and Burritos, Sandwiches and Salads. I tried a little garden salad, with Honey Carrot dressing, which was fresh and crunchy, and a slice of the #14 pizza. That's got Fresh Spinach, Red Onion, Roma Tomato, Kalamata Olive, Banana Pepper, Feta Cheese, and then you can choose Baked Tofu or Andouille Sausage. The tofu came highly recommended, but I really have a weakness for sausage, so I had to go the meat route once again. I was not disappointed. I also tried a few bites of the daily special pizza which had breaded eggplant on it. Excellent idea. LIke Eggplant Parmesan and pizza in one! It was very busy when we went in for a late lunch, but it didn't take too long for the food to be served. Plus, I like to eat at popular spots, makes me feel like I'm a part of the community when I'm really an outsider. But I actually ran into people I know! Not so lonely after all. I brought a menu home and am getting hungry just reading back through it. Can't wait to go back and try something else, like the #13 with Free-Farmed chicken, Portabella, Olives, Pesto, and Goat cheese. I've also heard that they sometimes make Kudzu Pesto, now that has got to be a rare and special Southern delicacy. I wonder if they can deliver to Austin...
(4)
P B.

Over priced...greasy pizza.
(2)
Michael L.

Excellent food at all hours. Weekend brunch is fantastic, as is the lunch menu. I like to try whatever special they have going, but always have the pesto to fall back on or a great pizza. My wife and I have actually purchased tubs of their hummus to take home with us (good stuff). It gets really crowded during the lunch hour, so either go around 11 or after 1 pm if you want a table to sit at.
(5)
Sarah W.

Yum. This place has some fun and really inventive items. Oh, and the hummus is to die for--which makes it that much more exceptional that you can buy it to take home with you! Yet not exactly the health-food place I expected from the menu and other reviewers. For Knoxville it seems to stand alone in its vegan/vegetarian/healthy/quirky category, but I've had a lot better and tastier from this category. I'll eat here again, probably pretty often.
(4)
Rebecca B.

Loved this place...the bread for sandwiches is awesome. Large salad was generous. Definitely worth the wait in line for lunch.
(5)
Patrick B.

This is one of the best restaurants in Knoxville. Their sandwiches are superb, with fresh, wholesome ingredients. I've also been to several of their Sunday brunches, and have been satisfied with each one. Most of their items are less than $10. Negative: The lines can be a bit long sometimes, and there isn't much room to wait.
(5)
Tianna S.

All I can say, is oh my gosh. I tell everyone about this place. It's amazing. I love that they have non-dairy cheese for those that can't have cheese but still love the taste of it. The desserts are amazing, their beer selection is for the most part local breweries. Did I mention their desserts are amazing? I had the 'Oh Boy' and wow. Really I love it all!
(5)
Jamie R.

ok so i took you guys advice and went.. it was great!! and man i love that you could get something as ordinary as pepperoni pizza.. or any kind of weird burrito with tofu combo that you can think of. I got the OH BOY sandwich .. which is a chicken sandwich with bacon, cheese and spinach, it was great!! I just loved it. i also tried some of my husbands tofu (i usually hate tofu) and it was so good.. i don't know how they cook it.. but it didn't taste like any tofu i had before. I think i will get that myself next time. MUST TRY!!
(5)
T C.

Great location on Market Square.
(4)
Eric B.

This place was a great find. We stumbled on it one Saturday morning. fantastic breakfast food, lots of variety, great service. definitely will come back
(5)
Christina C.

Great restaurant with a very fresh and tasty menu. Only gripe is that it is extremely popular and far too small for the amount of people that frequent it.
(5)
Chris O.

This place is ok. Similar to the Maryville location. But really, $15 for a tiny pizza? Does it sing to me before I eat it? Will it balance my checkbook? More hype than anything. Food is good. Service is good. Location is good.
(3)
Carly B.

This is my favorite restaurant of all time. I could eat the vegetarian sandwich for every meal, every day, for the rest of my life. Try the aforementioned or the Kepner Melt, and you won't regret it.
(5)
Kasey M.

I found this place by accident with some friends while visiting. We almost decided to go to somewhere else instead, what a mistake that would have been! Some of the best food I've had anywhere, very fresh and tasty. I had a pizza with lamb sausage and sundried tomatoes, my husband had a vegetarian burrito, which he loved despite not being a vegetarian. A friend had the cheese calzone, and another a meat-loaded pizza. We all were thrilled with our food and left full although we hadn't eaten in about 12 hours. Also an excellent beer list, several local brews on draft which we really appreciated. Service was spectacular despite the fact that we came in 20 minutes before closing. We only regret that we don't live here, and that we were too full to enjoy a Guiness chocolate cupcake for dessert. Maybe we can stop by again before we have to leave tomorrow....
(5)
Danielle P.

We grabbed dinner here tonight. I had their huevos special and it was tasty. Nice paintings on the walls, big and airy but not loud. Kid friendly, local beers, pleasant college student waitstaff. Good choice for dining with vegetarians where you can eat meat too. More of a brunch/lunch place by the menu but tasty all the same. The Market Square area was chock full of interesting looking eateries. My only beef was it seemed a little overpriced for what you got.
(3)
James N.

Food was okay. Just don't expect a quick bite during the lunch service. Went in and took over 30 min to get our sandwiches. Other folks that go here more often say that you have to order pizza if you want something quick.
(3)
Melissa C.

I love Tomato Head- it is definitely one of the best places in Knoxville. They use local and fresh ingredients which is awesome. I've been here several times for lunch and dinner, and we always bring out of town guests. The pizza is fabulous (esp anything with pesto). I love the sandwiches; the Tomato Head and the Oh Boy are my favorites so far. The "small" sandwiches are actually fairly small, but perfect for lunch. There is usually a wait to get a table, but it's worth it for the good food. The prices are reasonable for the quality of ingredients. The environment is fun and funky- part of the reason we love it is the hipster staff reminds us of being back in San Diego!
(5)
Sara S.

My friend and I had brunch here on a trip through Knoxville after another friend suggested it to us and we were not disappointed. The wait for a table outside was a little longer than we had time for, but we were seated inside pretty quickly and enjoyed the casual feeling very much. I had an omelet made to order and enjoyed it along with some awesome, creamy grits and a delicious, buttery biscuit. My friend ordered a breakfast burrito, which came with chips and salsa and was filled with all sorts of great, fresh ingredients, and she was a big fan of her meal as well. If I'm ever in Knoxville again, I will definitely make my way back to this place!
(4)
Izabel Z.

I was visiting my boyfriend in Knoxville and we decided to try a place in the downtown market square! We landed on Tomato Head and were quite pleased with the food! The only reason I didn't give it five stars is because it was incredibly loud the day we were there! It was a very busy day since there was a big even happening in the square, so I don't think that's what it's like on a normal day :) The pizza here is absolutely fantastic. You can tell they use really fresh ingredients. Definitely give this place a shot!
(4)
Sarai S.

The whole fam loves us some Tomato Head. L0ve the Tuscan chicken sandwich. Hummus is zesty. They're peanut butter pie is to die for and not repugnant at all after a bite, more like I can't stop biting after the first bite. This placed surprised me with the fact that a vegan cupcake can be "ohhh, so delicious"-try the red velvet vegan cupcake. Whatever I eat there satisfies me and never makes me feel disgusting afterwards. I liked it better before they remodeled. Prices went up and ambiance is not as comfy as before. Don't care for the Bearden one and I really don't know why.
(5)
Jessica J.

My husband and I have a saying - "bread and pesto makes everything better." Basically, this translates to: "It's been a rough day/week, let's go to Tomato Head." Tomato Head is a staple favorite for us. Of course we always share an order of bread and pesto. I regularly order something from their daily specials, but if none of the specials are to my taste I can always rely on an amazing pizza or calzone or burrito or quesadilla ... it's all delicious.
(5)
Madelynn M.

I've visited Tomato Head with friends and my pup, and also for a business lunch. Great, quality food. Chicken pozole was on point.
(5)
M M.

Great vegetarian and vegan food options. They've redone the place And it's changed from the quaint little hip spot to a much larger but still cool location in the heart of downtown Knoxville. Food is always on point and the service is quick and good. Love this place...
(5)
Joi B.

The Tomato Head saved my life! Yes, yes, I'm prone to hyperbole but say you were a healthy food road warrior type and became sick of all the raw nuts and dried fruits you packed for your road trip after the twentieth hour... On my way from NYC to NOLA last week, I became particularly stabby by day 2 of our road trip. "Surely I can eat something that is not a snack food by the time we hit Knoxville," I lamented aloud. Yes, hunger makes me extremely lugubrious, I'm not gonna lie. Consulted my trusty Yelp app and found The Tomato Head smack dab in the middle of Downtown. I was desperate for vegetables so although those pizzas and heartier dishes were extremely appealing, I opted for a humble-sounding vegan tofu sandwich which came on your choice of bread (I went with the whole wheat roll) and included chips, or a salad or fruit for only a little extra. Get the salad, people! Their dressings are all homemade and I was immediately compelled to tell the world how the mushroom sesame knocked my socks off. I did so with a mouth full, I might add. I couldn't stop eating despite my wish to sway the masses with my feelings of utter adoration. The sandwich was good, too. Just what I needed, as it was piled high with tomato, avocado, greens and red onion in addition to just the right amount of tofu. A perfectly spicy/crunchy/chewy giant ginger snap made for the perfect dessert later on that car ride. In short, I love Tomato Head and hope to return to Knoxville to explore more of this charming city and eat here again and again!
(5)
Dee O.

I not only love the food at the Tomato Head, I also really like its very reasonable owners. A must visit for Knoxville visitors and residents alike
(5)
Lisa R.

I toggled between a four and five star..why? Not sure... Then I thought, "we were in Knoxville for 2 1/2 days and went to The Tomato Head 3 times, that must be a five! First time in Knoxville, and on a suggestion we went to The Tomato Head, described as a "tree hugger pizza shop"..Hmm.. sounds good to me.., well, it was delicious. After a long road trip we decided to share a salad and a pizza, and two beers, the salad was nice and very fresh, not terribly exciting, but decent..but the pizza was Excellent...nice beer selection. Next trip: Glass of wine and a homemade chocolate cookie with white chocolate chips and cranberries..it was heavenly. Next trip: The two specials of the day, Thai chicken soup and a sweet potato/tofu/etc.. quesadilla.. and of course two beers. Each visit had great food, service, patio, and value. I was told that this establishment was one of the first in the area before the revitalization, which is pretty cool that they are still doing so well and serving great food.
(5)
Mark W.

Brunch Only! Huevos Ranncheros - Carmen Incredible flavor oh the Chorizo! Tangy fine ground goodness you wouldn't expect in Tennessee! With a layer of cheesy creamy grits, another layer of scrambled eggs! On some killer mole sauce... you are cheating yourself if you eat anything else!
(5)
Janine A.

awesome local option. poppyseed dressing is delicious.
(5)
EllieMae C.

This is an overall review of both locations... I will never ever understand how and why this restaurant gets such rave reviews. I worked downtown for 10+ years... during the years when there were the only choice of dining was either Subway or Tomato Head. My experiences have been consistent through the years and my experience yesterday was again - the same. We ate at your location on the Market Square yesterday (last choice - food trucks and other restaurants were packed.) Dear hostess- would it kill you to smile? And I'm not talking just to my party, but I was seated right next to the hostess stand and I watched you scowl and roll your eyes at more people than I could count. You are the first impression to your customers. Our server was very nice, but it took f o r e v e r to bring us coffee, water, FOOD! It reminded me of my eating lunch there when nearly every time, someone's order would not come out from the kitchen. There was no shortage of servers as they all gathered around surly hostess to chitter-chatter. Food - here's the thing - the food is always good. (Except yesterday the grits were ice cold.).
(3)
Charlie A.

This was my favorite place to eat for the entire three years (2009-2012) that I lived in Knoxville. I almost always ordered whatever the special for the day was and it was almost always incredibly delicious. This place can give you great restaurant quality taste while the food is almost as healthy as something you'd cook at home. I honestly can't imagine eating out at restaurants all the time--the food is just too heavy. I could, however, eat Tomato Head every day. Forever. Also, I have received some of the best service ever at this restaurant. They really know how to take care of you without being obtrusive. Sometimes there is a wait so milling around in Market Square becomes a kind of pre-Mater ritual. I have never regretted waiting. I have frequently regretted going to another nearby restaurant.
(5)
Daniel B.

Great place, local food, great atmosphere! Now with a bar!
(5)
Ana A.

If you are vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free... or even if you are not this is the place for you. Wonderful food in a spacious locale! Great desserts, customer service and more. Love it.
(5)
Lindy P.

This has always been one of my favorite restaurants in Knoxville for many years... and they never fail me. We had brunch at their Market Square location on Sunday, and they're always delicious... and always packed! We sat outside with our dog Oliver, and they're just so dog-friendly here. They bring them water and treat them like a guest too :) They also have a new location on Kingston Pike that I went to a few weeks ago when I was in Knoxville, and it was just as tasty. My go-to sandwich here is the Roast Beef and Gorgonzola sandwich on wheat, and my god, this is heaven on a fresh roll. mmmmm! The gorgonzola spread atop fresh roast beef, a tomato, and roasted red onions makes for a delectable sandwich. They serve it with blue corn chips, and do yourself a favor, get a side of their salsa for $1.50... it never disappoints. It's even good to dip your sandwich in! Sara got the "Dominga", or a fancy breakfast burrito with eggs, pesto, tomatoes, pico, bacon, veggies, etc.... yummo! They have many sweet treats that will suit your liking, and though I've never tried any of them, I hear they're super tasty. Five thumbs up :)
(5)
Kim M.

They have been around forever in Knoxville! They have amazing food and its fun to sit on Market Square while enjoying lunch.
(5)
Jonathan L.

Easily my favorite pizza in Knoxville. Great ingredients and the pesto sauce is amazing. Some of my favorites toppings are their roasted garlic, feta, and portabella mushroom. Add the prime Market Square location and newly expanded location and you are in for a good evening.
(5)
Cody F.

The best restaurant in Market Square in my opinion. Inventive dishes, high quality ingredients, pizza you want to inhale, and the best brunch in the city (try the Annabelle!). It's a shame they don't serve Bloody Mary's for brunch, I would love to see what damage the brilliant minds at Tomato Head could do with the Bloody Mary.
(5)
Mark C.

Always great. Wait staff can be uniquely surly at times, but the menu is fun and creative, and the kitchen consistently delivers.
(5)
Jang C.

This place looked happening on a Saturday night. I'm not sure if it was because of the UT game or what. The hostess said my wait would take about 30 minutes. The actual time was 15 minutes. Tomato Head has a big menu. They have pizzas, sandwiches, burritos, salads, and quesadillas. When I asked my server what he recommends, he said to ignore the burritos and quesadillas and get the sandwich or pizza. So I followed his advice and got a sandwich and a pizza. I got the Tuscan Chicken Sandwich. It was a solid sandwich. The ingredients taste fresh and good. The bread taste good. I liked it. It comes with your choice of blue chips or potato chips. I chose the blue chips. I'm not a big fan of chips, but I liked the taste of the blue chips. As I was eating the sandwich, I saw their homemade pizza dough in the kitchen. The dough looked awesome so I had to try their pizza. I got their most "pure" pizza with the least ingredients that I saw: herbed tomato, sundried tomato & pesto. Their pizza is okay. It came out looking good. Being cooked in an electric oven, the crust had nice blisters and browning. I was expecting their crust to be amazing. Unfortunately, it had no taste. It wasn't an amazing crust. It was more meh. The crust makes or breaks the pizza, and I was hoping the crust to have more flavor. The toppings tasted weird too. I guess I'm not a fan of having a ton of pesto sauce on a pizza. I'm more of a traditional tomato sauce person. So the pizza had tasteless crust and weird topping. I wasn't a fan. Even though I didn't like their pizza, I liked their sandwich. I also liked the vibe and ambience of the place. I liked it enough to be a fan. So, I'll give it 4 stars.
(4)
Ashley M.

This was one of the last places I tried on a recent trip to Knoxville and although I was tempted to pass up the experience because of a wait to be seated, I am so very glad I didn't! I ordered a cup of soup and tried a small portion of their Southwestern Salad. This was more than enough food for lunch. Their portions are large and satisfying and the food was some of the best I enjoyed on my trip. The best part of the salad is that the ingredients were fresh and bursting with flavor. It's definitely worth the wait to give this place a shot and you can bet that on my next trip to Knoxville, this will be one of the first places I revisit!
(5)
Alex L.

I graduated from UT in 2011 and tomato head was always at the top of my list to eat. Came back into town a few weeks ago and grabbed lunch here that Sunday. Wow!! They expanded! What was already a great restaurant is even cooler now. I don't think there's a better place to eat in Knoxville. The menu is definitely diverse and there's something for everybody. Oddly enough, I rarely order one of their pizzas and usually stick w/ sandwiches. This time I made an omelet and it was excellent. Go eat here.
(5)
Brian P.

Wonderful service. Decently priced. Awesome calzone and some tasty black bean humus. Would definitely visit again.
(4)
Bruised B.

Were really cool about making things vegan. They had tons of vegetarian options and meat options so everyone could be happy ordering here!
(5)
Aisha K.

Stopped in at the suggestion of a couchsurfer on my road trip. The pizza I had was delicious although I was disappointed I couldn't get it by the slice, but had to order the whole thing. I had the Chicken, Roasted Portobello & Pesto White Pizza and it was great. The waitress was okay. It was mostly empty when we went for a late lunch, but there was some lag between the times she would come to check on us. Still a good time.
(4)
Hartley P.

The food was all excellent, I would have preferred a slightly larger sandwich than their large sandwich. The pizza also has a nice crust and no flavor was overpowering another.
(4)
Heather W.

Ate dinner here first night in town - really enjoyed it. The salad was so fresh and yummy and the mushroom dressing was fantastic! We all loved both the hummus plate and berry cobbler as well. Love the concept and the vibe - hope to visit again the next time in Knoxville.
(4)
Shawn D.

The gluten free pizza crust was excellent! I ordered the goat cheese, tomato and basil pizza, and it was absolutely incredible! They piled on the goat cheese, and didn't skimp on the tomatoes! Everyone else at the table was equally impressed with their food! I would absolutely recommend this restaurant!
(5)
Tripp W.

So I'm in Knoxville for business. It's my third time here, and I finally opted to heed the advice of those who suggested The Tomato Head and what the heck was I waiting for?!? They have ALL the yummy. The server was beyond awesome. She even sat down to discuss the menu with me and talk about what she likes and what other people like. Her suggestion - 1/2 #3, 1/2 #10. So I get a pizza with lamb sausage, herbed tomatoes, and capers on one side... And on the other, organic black beans, andouille sausage, spinach, and garlic... I alternated slices so I could decide which was better. The result - I have to go back and eat everything there. I couldn't decide. Just found out I'm headed back in a couple of weeks. I'm so excited. And I just can't hide it. Side note, the guy in Market Square doing rhythmic gymnastics-esque giant flag/banner twirling was amusing. The street magician was also cool. All in plain view from my seat. Go. Eat. Enjoy.
(4)
Kristin I.

On a recent visit to Knoxville we discovered Tomato Head as part of our stop at Mast General Store (around the corner). The menu was so diverse that I had a difficult time deciding what to order. Our server was very helpful and said the kitchen was happy to try and make changes, substitutions or additions, which was great, but almost made my decision harder! My husband had the chef salad. There were many house-made dressings to choose from and he was very happy with his meal. I settled on the Kepner melt. Somehow they made walnuts, spinach, tofu, cheese, tomatoes, pesto, pineapple, and other ingredients all stick together and keep from smushing out of the sandwich while also going together very nicely. I never would have put those things together, but the waiter recommended it and I'm glad I listened. Overall a great place. Omnivore/vegetarian/vegan friendly, adult/kid friendly, and generally friendly!
(5)
Brianna J.

Ok, I have to update my review because while the sandwiches may have fallen short the other night, Tomato Head's customer service really went above and beyond to try to set things right. We came back in to give it another shot, and while some people around us were having sandwiches that looked pretty good, I realized maybe our big mistake the night of my first review was not getting what Tomato Head is known for- their pizza! They have a lot of great ones in their menu, but what I really love is the extensive list of super fresh and often local ingredients for building your own pies. We ended up going with andouille sausage, Gorgonzola cheese, and roasted onions and it was amazing! My only suggestion would be to cook it a little longer so it's not soggy soft in the middle, but that was easily overlooked with such great flavor. In addition to the fab pizza, our server that night was super friendly and attentive, and he wasn't even finished with his training. Overall, it was a really good experience and I'm glad we gave it another try!
(4)
Blaine W.

Very good food, desserts, and kid friendly. Enjoyed ham and pineapple pizza and awesome key lime pie. Very friendly servers and a cool vibe.
(5)
Paul B.

One of the best places to eat in Knoxville. Very hip, with young and helpful staff who smile and care about serving you. The food is outstanding, particularly the Tuscan chicken.
(5)
Tyler D.

The Tomato Head is my favorite restaurant in Knoxville. They make all of their food with care and consideration. I enjoy the vairety of quality ingredients they use. This place is great for most everyone: the vegan, vegeterian, pizza nerd, and sandwich lover can all get a great meal.
(5)
Rebecca L.

Always one of my favorite places to eat when I'm in my hometown. I love their spinach pizza. The staff is always friendly.
(4)
Jason W.

So original, creative, hand made & high quality. A gem in K-town.
(5)
Richard E.

Excellent sandwich place, decor is bright and airy, healthy salads and sandwiches, vegetarians will love this place. Service is superb.
(5)
Francesca J.

I stopped in because although this places is listed as a Pizza joint, it is also known for its baked goods. I got a Vegan Choco Chip cookie for my sister, and upon the word of the server, a Chocolate Thunder cookie, as opposed to a non-vegan choco chip (both of which looked great). I am eating the cookie now, and it is delicious. Next time I visit Knoxville, I will definitely eat my full meal here. Thank you Yelp and the court officer who recommended this place.
(5)
Becky A.

Awesome pizza! The service is so nice and friendly as well. The tea is OK, could be sweeter but that's just me.
(5)
Kara B.

Awesome varied selection and great prices. We found this via Yelp while I was looking for a vegetarian restaurant on our way back from a trip in the Smokies. I had the Kepner Melt, but I'd love to try other items on the menu, too - I'll have to come back sometime. :)
(5)
Ellen S.

Although when we got here there was a wait, there is a system in place so we were able to walk around Knoxville and see the downtown area. We were texted when our table was ready and came right back. We were seated and our waitress (Sarah) came right away to get our drink orders. When we had a question about the ingredients in a dish, she got a book and was able to tell us exactly. All of the meals were delicious and reasonably priced! Would definitely come back.
(5)
Samantha A.

Great beer selection, great pizza, good atmosphere. A great place to take visiting guests with an emphasis on quality food. Love the patio and the new expansion has done wonders for the feel of the restaurant. Must try - pesto pizza, vegan chocolate chip cookies
(5)
Steven O.

Great pizza! Chicken, sundried tomatoes, pesto, smokehouse cheddar, spinach was our combination and it was awesome! Cesar salad had a fresh citrus flavor and they had Oscar Blues Ten Fidy on draft which never happens anywhere. Reasonable prices for the quality of food and the attentive staff and timing were excellent. Tons of seating space.
(5)
Casey R.

Tomato Head is by far my favorite place to eat in the Knoxville area. They have a very large menu that offers lots of vegetarian options. I usually stick to the pizza and salads but on a recent trip tried a special sandwich. It was great, served on cranberry almond bread with tofu, spinach, tomato jam, sprouts, caramelized onions and cheese. They also have draft craft and local beers to try all for about $4 a pint.
(5)
LA M.

Love their menu and atmosphere. I only wish they had more seating outside!
(4)
John S.

Great place. The only downside is that it's PACKED sometimes. The pizza is exactly how pizza should be. Not too greasy, fresh ingredients that you can taste. Good stuff.
(5)
Imran Q.

I get cravings for this place at times. Albeit, I only get the #14 (pesto) pizza because it's amazing, but why spoil a good thing. Great atmosphere - yay for Market Square.
(5)
Dan W.

Wow, I was very impressed with not only the great healthy food at Tomato Head but the service was excellent. I told them to surprise me with a sandwich and it seemed like they were reading my taste buds. I ended up with a veggie sandwich with tofu, spinach, caramelized onions, pineapple & walnuts. SO SO good! Thanks Tomato Head.
(5)
Andrea B.

Loved it! Absolutely loved it. The staff was friendly, the place was clean. Beer on tap was delicious. I was starving and had the vegan sandwich but could only eat half, took the other with me. Husband had ham and pineapple pizza, and he liked it as well. I will go back here every single time I am in Knoxville from here on out.
(5)
Heather M.

This is one of the places I'll miss in Knoxville. The pizza is good, although not the best I've ever had and only once was it just plain mediocre (during a busy lunch rush). Overall, though it's usually quite yummy. But, I have to say my favorite thing there was the warm bacon salad....mmmmmmm. Most people go for the pizza, I went for the salad. The location is nice on Market Square, but the place can get crowded so if claustrophobia isn't your thing, hit it early or late.
(4)
Robert R.

This is supposed to be one of the best restaurants in KTown? I mean it's OK, the sandwiches are good but I think for the price they're a little small. The line was long, the service was slow, the food was good. I agree with the others reviewers in that this place in unique for Knoxville, veggies..tofu..hummus, hippie, beatnik (I really like tofu and hummus by the way) Tomato Head is OK it's just not favorite.
(3)
Julia S.

Yuuuuuuuum. Good, cheap wine, delicious pizza with good-tasting soy cheese that melts, meat options for my non-veg husband. I really, really enjoyed this place. Service was a bit on the slow side, but then the restaurant was also packed. I would definitely go back again, but the place is a bit too hippie-ish for my husband. Next time I'm in Knoxville, I definitely want to come back and try their veggie burger. Also, their hummus is delicious!
(5)
Tiffany B.

I went to the tomato head when I first moved hear after all the reviews I read and recommendations I received. I wasn't crazy about it. There was a certain cheese they used on the pizza that just rubbed me the wrong way. This is just a personal taste thing, though, and nothing that is the restaurant's fault. They use 3 or so different cheeses on their pizza and I hate one of them. The quality and service was great, though.
(3)
Kelli S.

Roger Roger = a fave!
(4)
Merissa M.

I love this place! Their daily specials are always a hit with me as well as their house salad with mushroom sesame dressing and fresh baked bread. Their vegetarian spaghetti or lasagna is amazing if you are there on a day when they have it otherwise I like the Tomato head sandwich. Always fresh...always good. Can be a little pricey but it's worth it.
(4)
D S.

Pizzas are small. If you dare ask for gluten free (which they advertise they have) you will get a 5-6 inch pizza and will get charged 4 bucks more for it!
(2)
Kate S.

Everything here is outstanding. It was my favorite restaurant when I lived in Knoxville. I wish I had made it a goal to try everything on the menu.
(5)
John D.

Very California-like restaurant. Salads, light fare, but well done. Place your order at the counter and someone brings it to your table. No frills. College type of hang out. Great place for lunch or a lite dinner.
(4)
Devon C.

I can't say much that hasn't already been said about this restaurant, but I will weigh in and say this is the best place to eat in Knoxville. They have healthy, delicious, unique food at great prices. The daily specials are always fantastic. I highly recommend you check them out on a Sunday because their brunch is truly a treat. If I had to find a complaint, it would be that the place can get a bit noisy when it is packed. There's nothing really to soak up the sound.
(5)
Jesse W.

There is nothing like it. Fresh interesting dishes. Best sandwiches and pizzas in Knoxville. Friends from out of town ask to go there when visiting. Great place.
(5)
Stephanie G.

I went my first time for Sunday brunch. It can be a little pricey compared to other brunches in Knoxville, but I think their superb ingredients are soooo worth it. I had one of the versions of huevos rancheros and the mole sauce was so good that I could have drank it! I also had a side of cheese grits that were really good as well as the necessary mimosa. I will be putting Tomato Head in regular rotation!
(5)
Will Y.

Overrated. A perpetual disappointment. Their sandwiches are more impressive than the pizza.
(3)
Tony D.

One of the best places to eat in Knoxville...The vegetarian pizza I had was great, the service was good and the price was decent. If you are in the Market area looking for a nice place to eat, I don't think you can go wrong with Tomato Head.
(4)
Wanita N.

The other reviewers have covered this little place pretty well. All I can add, is that the coffee is fair trade and pretty good. Oh and if you make your own breakfast pizza, consider the house-made lamb sausage with red peppers, on a whim we made this pizza I think with a fancy cheese which ends up tasting like the most awesome farmer's omelet ever.
(5)
C J.

I recently found out that if you bring in a handmade mug they take off $8 from your bill! Since two of my siblings are potters... there is an endless supply of mugs! SWEET! I love tomato head even more now!
(4)
Becky K.

The food's great. You've got a good assortment of vegan and non-vegan meals. They have a Sunday brunch, which is a bit expensive for what you get. Both omelettes and waffles custom made. The service is not outstanding. Lines are long to get in and the place is noisy and crowded. I really doubt anyone in a wheelchair or walker could get into the bathroom there.
(3)
Rob H.

I always get the Tomato Head without the tomato. Not sure what they call that... it's amazing though!
(5)
Jill R.

To me this is a Knoxville institution. I have been going to the T-Head for as long as I can remember. I have never had a bad meal or a bad experience. I moved to the west coast a few years ago, and I still crave their grub. The pizzas are to die for, their burritos are kinky and yummy, there salads are freakishly large, their sandwiches are heaven, and their desserts... well you just hope you have room for them. The owners are good folk and its a place you should feel good about supporting. I have moved away from Knoxville, but let me tell you... I went back recently, and it was the first place I ate. All I ask is that if you go have a Kepner Melt and an iced tea for me.
(5)
Micah J.

Best pizza in TN by far. I'm originally from South Jersey and pizza is a sensitive subject for us (along with subs and Philly Cheesesteaks). It was great having something familiar in the two years I lived in K-town.
(5)
paige m.

if you are a vegetarian on a road trip and you go through tennessee, go here. definitely a sight for sore eyes. eating veg in tennessee is so hard but this place is so good...fresh veggies..tofu..hummus. also the patio is so cute! eat here and eat outside.
(5)
Brad H.

20+ years in business in the same Market Square location says everything. Great food. Great, casual atmosphere. And, one perfect place to gather with friends and families. Gin and I dated there and have raised 4 kids on Mahasti's pizza, salads, and fresh-everything fare. Here's to another 20+ years of great food, cool staff service, and feeling the culinary love!
(5)
Martin W.

During a recent brief business trip to Knoxville, I was advised by a hotel staffer to have lunch at the Tomato Head in the Market Square; I was skeptical, given the turista emphasis of this district. But, what a pleasant surprise. The soup du jour was a daringly spicy curry, ginger, carrot cream ... a true taste treat. The Greek salad was not especially authentic, but was quite satisfying (and huge) none the less. The beer selection was adequate (although not extensive), but the mug was chilled making my Blue Moon a nice accompaniment with lunch. The youthful waitstaff were pleasant, skillfully attentive, and charmingly funky. The Tomato Head is an easy walk from the Convention Center, and I give it high marks for offering a tasty, moderately priced meal served in a very pleasant environment.
(4)
J B.

Great place, wonderful vegetarian sandwiches. Everyone should come here!
(5)
Sharif H.

Consistantly wonderful.
(5)
Rachel P.

This place is definitely the best casual place I have eaten in/around Knoxville. The ingredients are fresh, and the pizza/salads are memorable. The #3 pizza, and #4 are mmm mmm good. I added goat cheese to the whole pie and it was awesome...esp considering the other food I ate around K-ville was pretty gnarels.
(4)
joy r.

Good food but it's soooo crowded on Saturdays. They should open up another one in West Knox. I also love how they use organic produce. Great hummus too.
(5)
Loretta L.

Yes if I have people in from out of town, I take them to the tomato head. Recently, Vashti Bunyan was passing through (she didn't play here) and I took her road crew (half vegan) to The tomato head. While we were there her music was playing (I think it was pure coincidence). Anyway, it's undoubtedly a hip place to hang. Often crowded. They have amazing salads, my favorite sandwhich is the kepner melt (it has walnuts and pineapple in it!) and their cobbler Mmmmmmm! Also, the owners are very cool people and they host a lot of great artwork (sometimes even edgier stuff). My only complaint is that I get tired of going there. Knoxville simply needs more restaurants. Also, I think the lighting is bad and sometimes they have trouble regulating the temperature...but if you're on the patio neither is a problem. PS- people who work at the T. Head include artists, dancers, activists, musicians, and writers....and they will even hold performances in the restaurant after hours. How cool is that?
(5)
Casey P.

The Tomato Head certainly met my pizza standards. On every visit, I have woofed down some of the best tomato sauce, crust and toppings Knoxville has to offer. TH offers a lot of pizza fixings that other local places do not. This is a must try if you're ever in the area.
(4)
Audrey D.

Never fails! Tomato Head is and has been a great place in K-town for years. The Kepner Melt is one of my favorite vegetarian sandwiches in the universe. It's so good I can rarely force myself to order something else. There are so many toppings available for your pizza, you will pass out. Freaking awesome chocolate cookie with cherries in it. Weekend brunch is fun - grits, eggs, etc. You can always substitute the blue corn chips for a healthy serving of fresh fruit. Best hummus and pesto around, and you can take some home for your next meal. I am in a habit of buying their hummus from the Food Co-op. I have taken all kinds of people here and they are always impressed with the food, even people that are normally scared of hipsters/trust fund hippies. Actually, the place is looking a lot more main stream these days, but the food hasn't slacked at all. Definately a plus for Knoxville.
(4)
sharmane b.

the pizza is pretty good here. the waitstaff is a little too cool & some might be a little goofy on purpose, that's so 1992 you guys. anyways our server asked us if we wanted anything to drink just as we settled into our seats. i said that we were not ready yet & that we had just sat down. he replied with an awkward "i just wanna know what you wanna drink." i told him again that we had just sat down & we didn't even look at a menu yet. he kind of seemed annoyed & walked away. i pretty much hated the "art" on the wall also. if the place took it down a notch & just focused on the good food it would be a 5 star.
(4)
Kate D.

I stopped in here while on a very brief overnight in Knoxville, and I'm so glad I! My buddy got a pizza that was delish (chicken, pesto, mushrooms, olives?) while I got a salad. Her pizza was a "personal" size one, and it was excellent to share. It was perfectly done, the crust held up beautifully and although I wanted to be healthy w my food, I was glad to have it to balance out the calories with. I got a simple greek salad which was easy, fresh and beautiful. The server forgot to take my onions off and put the chicken I ordered on, but was more than solicitous on customer service and took it off my bill. So nice! We also shared a veggie appetizer w home made hummus that was crazy delish. I wish I'd had room for dessert there - everything looked BEAUTIFUL - but I was too full to make a selection. Maybe next time I'm in town! The ambiance there was great - its beautifully decorated, and Market Square was humming outside with live music and great places to eat and drink. The space was big, well lit and while it was loud, I couldn't tell if it was the acoustics or just the fact that they were busy that made it so. This place has been an anchor in Market Square for 20+ years, and I can see why.
(5)
Crystle C.

I really enjoyed this restaurant! I had a vegetarian sandwich and it was so amazingly good that I will be back 50 more times to eat it over and over again. The only reason I'm giving this place four stars is because it took a really long time to get our food. To be fair, our waitress was amazing but I think the kitchen was more backed up than maybe it should've been. That being said, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this place.
(4)
Elaine H.

This is one of the best places in Knoxville to get vegan food. They're not just vegan though. It's a happening environment and every time I'm in town I eat here. It's usually busy but they have an effective texting system so you don't have to hang out waiting for a table. The food is usually really good, though sometimes a few dishes have been hit or miss. The service can sometimes be slow, but it seems like every dish is handmade so I forgive them. This isn't a place for a quick, cheap bite. This is a place to sit and have a healthy, proper meal. For each little imperfection, there are plenty of wonderful qualities that make it worth it overall.
(5)
Sebastian B.

Hands down the best Pizza in Knoxville. I at in this time and it's a busy rainy Thursday with the place over 50% well past 1:00p. My pizza was slightly underdone but still excellent. From toppings to portion size and price this was a terrific lunch. My waiter was a little green though forgetting to bring water and not noticing my glass was empty half way through lunch. The ladies are all over the dining too showing terrific attention to their guest. Overall this was my go place of choice today on my way to TYS for a late flight home. I'll be back!
(4)
Shari S.

I just moved here and I'm also a vegetarian I discovered this place on yelp! I came here on a Friday around 4pm and it was not pack at all. I ordered the tofu quiesdillas and my son had pepperoni pizza! My dish was good and this is my favorite spot and I will be a regular. The waiter was nice, friendly and this place has a lot of guys working there and less girls. Maybe it was more guys working this day idk .... But no biggie , I will be back !!!!
(5)
Brigit B.

During a road trip and on the verge of hangry (a potent combo of hungry & angry) we stopped at the Tomato Head. Having pretty solid reviews I anticipated a scrumptious lunch. (Insert Debbie downer sound here.) I ordered the Greek salad and a slice of tomato basil and mozz pizza. The salad I received was the standard house with Greek dressing. Strike one. My pizza was completely bland, the tomatoes were barely cooked, and the sauce was pretty dried out as well. Strike 2. The server was friendly so there's that and he was attentive so there's that too. The menu was very vegetarian friendly so I would return for that reason but come on Tomato Head your specialty is pizza! Get it together!
(3)
Bill P.

Once again, the place "they" say is so good, really isn't! Next time I go to a hipster place, I hope someone here will smack me over the head. Well, we must have "kitchen door" stamped on our foreheads, because every time we go out, they stick us at the table by the door that goes into the kitchen. The place was about half full on Saturday afternoon. I told the hostess it was our first time here and we were excited. Came all the way from Chattanooga. You'd think she'd take us to a better table. So I told her that, no, we didn't want to sit by the friggin kitchen door. The next party that came in she sat at a good table. Why didn't she sit them by the kitchen door? So, like I said, we must have "kitchen door" stamped on our foreheads. We finally were sat at the table right next to the huge table in the bay window at the front of the place. No silver, so I take some from the table caddy-corner to us. No salt shaker, which we also took from table caddy-corner to us. We came in specifically to have a snack. So we ordered one beer, one Diet Coke, the hummus and black beans with blue chips, and an order of black beans and rice. Also a side of their salsa. I think the total for all of this was around $27.00. The hummus with the black beans was very small for around $7 -- and it was all beans. (Meanwhile, at our favorite place in Chattanooga called Tremont Tavern, you get a large serving of their incredible house made hummus of the day with warm pita for $6.) And the little bowl of black beans and rice was pricey, too. The hummus was excellent -- just not enough of it. Same for beans and rice. And the beans seemed dryish. Salsa was excellent. Blue chips were out of a bag. Overall, the food was OK. Just not enough of it for the money paid. Really disappointing, though, was the hostess and the service. I think our server had two tables until the very end of our visit. Despite this, she would just disappear. I didn't get a refill on my Diet Coke until we were ready to leave. Before we decided to go to Tomato Head, my wife had suggested going to Calhoun's. Now why, I said, do we want to go there again when we haven't tried Tomato Head? Because, she said, you know what kind of luck we have with those kinds of places. At the end of the meal, she gave me that "told you so" look. Yep.
(2)
Hera J.

We were so excited to try this place because of all the great reviews. We ordered the large southwestern salad with avocados and chipotle ranch dressing. Enough to share and it was really good! And we also got the combination pizza lamb sausage and sundries tomato. The pizza was a major disappointment.... I absolutely hated it. It was too salty and the sauce was sour... Overall the service and the salad was great. But nothing to be excited about.
(3)
Kait G.

Great food, poor service Let me start by saying it's very hard to displease me with service. The girl who served us started with an "I could care less" attitude then moved to an passive aggressive one after we asked to move tables (because it was freezing!). We ordered and after waiting 45 minutes we asked how much longer it would take. After politely saying "Do you know when the food will be out? We've been here almost an hour." The waitress responded very snarky with "An hour?" And promptly walked away. At this point my mom looked at me and said "I don't like her attitude." Well she must have heard because after, she was a complete sweetheart. The food was fantastic, something very hard to find as a vegan! My vegan sandwich was the best vegan sandwich I've ever had in all honesty. My father loved his vegan veggie chef salad and kept complementing the tofu! All-in-all this place is a vegan heaven, and regardless of the service at first, I will be back. It's just that good.
(3)
Amanda S.

Everytime we come here we have great service and the people are so rad. The food is always on point and we try to get something new and different everytime! The vibe is chill and it's nice to look around and see how busy it is with tons of smiley faces. Coming from Houston and prior hometown Tampa Bay with a lot of great eats and drinkiers.. it was nice to fall into the lap of this place. We have only been to the Kingston Pike one 1x, but our server was awesome and food was yummy. The Market spot has became our go to place. Came here for my Birthday and was treated so nice by our server. Let's get into the food! Try it all! Eat it all! Cookies and teas and pizza oh myyyyy! Have a beer sit at the bar then go out back to the ally and take pictures of the beautiful murals! Hope you enjoy this place as much as we do... (:
(5)
Jon F.

Laid-back atmosphere with excellent cousine made from healthy, sustainable sources (some possibly local?) Had the daily pizza special it knocked me off my feet. Wide craft beer and wine selection. Worth every cent.
(5)
David W.

Had the #3 Lamb pizza. The service was very slow almost to the point of horrible at our table. One of my coworker waited over 30 minutes for a glass of water. The waitress walked by many times and never gave him a menu. Chloe was very slow and made us figure out pass out our own checks/credit cards back to each other and took off. I am sorry but the 9 of us will never return or recommend!
(1)
Eugene C.

As a woman who eats pizza at least once a week and also as a lover of pizza I've got to say this place was awesome. Looked for places to stop and eat in Knoxville on a road trip and found this little gem downtown. The food quality is great. Everything is flavorful, fresh, and hot-- we custom built our own pizza. The service was also outstanding and the server was attentive and even gave is cookies (on the house) for the road. Overall the pricing is a little higher but you're paying for what you get. Definitely will be back if we ever come back to Knoxville.
(5)
Brent F.

Tomato Head. A staple for anyone who visits Knoxville. No matter what your palate favors, there something delicious and made with love. It's a must eat location for first timers to town, and a repeat visit for those who return. Great stuff always.
(5)
Calin D.

Best vegetarian and vegan food around! Tomato Head definitely has something for everyone, and it's very likely that whatever you choose, a lot of thought went into it. I rarely go back to the same restaurant twice in a row, however, I happily made an exception in this case. I am a hummus addict. It's true. The black bean siracha hummus here was good enough that I'm going to add it to my list of favorites. And the blue corn chips it arrived with were also stellar. The cheese quesadillas with chipotle salsa are definitely done by someone who regularly makes pizza, and also excellent. They serve a variety of burritos, and the two I tried, chicken and a veggie, were hot, fresh, plenty to eat, and relatively healthy. The local beers on tap are a tasty addition to any meal, and the coffee was also very passable. However, the peanut butter cake was the best! My goodness, I could eat just that for dinner and be perfectly happy. For breakfast, the huevos rancheros dishes I tried were as good as any I've had in New Mexico, and though the cheese grits aren't from Charleston, they pass the muster as well. Prices reflect the high quality of the food, though not enough to keep me from taking two cupcakes on my way out for later. Well done Knoxville! Bon Appetit!
(5)
Sim T.

The food isn't good. The ambience is pretty chill. Overall it's over hyped. We stopped here because of its high reviews on yelp as we were driving through Knoxville, but I think it was a miscalculated stop...unless this place actually is the best that Knoxville has to offer
(2)
Loralyn D.

Stopped at The Tomato Head for the first time while in Knoxville and I was very impressed with this place! The restaurant is in Market square which is a cute city block to walk around and check out. Outside the restaurant looks like an old city building but inside is very modern and looks recently redone. We started off with chicken curry soup (which was delicious and filling) and then moved to a chicken portobello pizza (without olives) and I couldn't stop eating. I thought I wanted a tomato sauce but the white sauce with pesto hit the spot. Highly recommend! Will return again!
(5)
Kenny C.

Had a great experience at The Tomato Head. When the house salad came out my wife said "This is a nice salad". Boom, nailed it. When her calzone came out she said "I'm worried there's not going to be enough sauce." She was right, so we got a side of sauce. And then after the meal I said "Yum". Then she said "yes, yum indeed". The rest of the time we were on our phones. So 4 stars.
(4)
Vasha B.

The appetizer knots of bread are amazing! We ordered the pepperoni bread knots and finish the whole order in like 5 minutes! The pizza was delicious too but sadly I didn't get to enjoy it as much since I was stuffed with the knots... They have a cool kitchen with huge windows facing the restaurant so you can see them making your order :)
(4)
Jason H.

A family and office favorite. Not to miss are "The Lucy" (don't worry if you think you'll miss having meat on your sandwich - you won't..and yes, nuts on a sandwich are delicious), as well as the black bean hummus. A go-to for office lunches... Good selection of beers (if you're not having an office lunch), and their salads are definitely something worth trying.
(4)
Susan L.

kinda disappointed in you, tomato head. The reviews were so great, and I remember it being a super cool, chill place a few years back. Its nice now but the inside lacks much character anymore... at least compared to the past. Anyway, that was then and this is now. Menu: very expansive and TONS of vegetarian options. thats why I wanted to try it out!! Ill give it another shot but this experience left a lot to be desired. Price: 3 stars, reasonable though they sure try to get you for every little thing. We asked to *try*, some kind of salsa or pico type stuff and got a small dish of it, and we were charged $2 for it. We didn't care for it and didn't eat it, so I asked for the charge to be removed, and it was. Beyond that, there are small and large portions to pick from and such, I had a small sandwich for like $7, added a side of hummus for $2, house salad for $4, my partner had a slice of pizza for $3, fair. Food: 2/3, I guess. I REALLY wanted to love it. the aforementioned pizza slice was small, dry, and flavorless. My vegan sandwich was ok, though boring. Good bread, fresh ingredients, but not much of any of them. The tofu didn't have much flavor at all. Their hummus game is on point, ill give em that. House salad was solid, dressings seem to be house-made and are very good. Unfortunately my partner ordered a small greek salad and received a house salad. Fail. Service: 2/3. decent but very sort of robotic. We had to ask for salt and pepper and just about every other little thing. The salad was wrong. I guess i can't really complain about this but, lets just say .. a little personality goes a long way.
(2)
John D.

A bit kitchy and fun, but I went a year ago and never really had the need to go back. Was definitely pricier than I expected. A cut above most restaurants but I found that at their price point I expected a bit more. Still 4 stars though!
(4)
David C.

One of the best pizza places in Knoxville - maybe the best. I kind of preferred the old ambiance before the renovation, but very nice and bright now. The sandwiches are almost as good as the pizza. The cookies are! Add to that an awesome craft beer selection and a very long bar. Their brunch is also divine.
(4)
John H.

Used to always eat at the one in Maryville until it closed. Don't get to Knoxville very often so it's a great now. They have a very interesting menu and the food is always good. A little on the noisy side but it is busy. Place is clean and the temperature is cool which is great as it is hot outside.
(5)
Sarah P.

Tomato Head is super yummy! This is a great place for groups. I absolutely love their pizza, and their salads are a must. There's a pretty great brunch here. I also love the fact that they team up with the Love Kitchen and donate a percentage of food and wine sales on certain days of the week. Gotta love generous management! Knoxville should be proud to be home to this unique place!
(4)
Danielle R.

Looking at all the reviews of my fellow Yelpers, I knew I had to try Tomato Head while visiting Knoxville. It was crazy busy since they had the music festival going on over the weekend, but we managed to squeeze in and give our name to the hostess who quoted us 20-25 minutes. I loved how she took my phone number and it texted me when our table was ready, which gave my family and I time to walk around, rather than stand around and tie up space in the small area around the restaurant. Five minutes later (whoa that was fast!), our table was ready! My daughter was a little freaked out by the "vegan" and "gluten free" written everywhere. She's a picky eater and that equates to "nothing to eat." But she ordered the Tuscan Chicken sandwich with potato chips and said it was good. I ordered the Ole Boy sandwich with blue corn chips and hummus (extra). The sandwich was really good, especially the bacon on it. I'm not a fan of bacon usually but this bacon is what made the sandwich. I also added sprouts to the sandwich. The hummus was excellent! My husband ordered the chicken burrito and said it was great. He especially liked the flaky wrapper the burrito came in. I really liked the salsa that came with the chips and ended up stealing it from him. Overall, everything was really tasty. The table beside me ordered a calzone that looked amazing and the pizzas I saw go by me looked delicious. My only complaint is the portions seemed small for the sandwiches. I ordered a "small" Ole Boy and it was the size of my palm...and I have the hands of a 10 year old little girl. At any other restaurant, I would eat half my sandwich. Here, I ate the entire sandwich and the chips. My daughter ate all her food and complained she was still hungry. For roughly $8 for a small sandwich, that's still very pricey.
(4)
Estella M.

We arrived around 8pm and had to wait about 30 minutes which was totally understandable due to being on Market Square and being a Friday night. The place was very busy and pretty loud but very clean and it had a nice atmosphere. We began with bread and feta dressing as our appetizer and whoa that feta dressing was extremely robust but not unpleasant. We had a 14" pizza the #1 with pesto, sun dried tomato and we added pepperoni. The pizza was actually pretty delicious with a nice crust and good amount of toppings. The pesto was delicious and my significant other actually ate all of his tomatoes which is rare. Our server was very busy but nice. The people in the kitchen were busting their butts. We would return maybe with a reservation next time.
(3)
Amber L.

Decent food poor service. Arrived late at night during a rush and were sat pretty quickly, took the waitress a few minutes to get to us which I understand but then it starting dying down. She gave us our drinks and told us she'd give us some time to look at the menu. 30 minutes later (almost no one in the restaurant) we tried to ask a bus girl to get our waitress and we were ignored so we had to grab a near by manager to take our order. Our waitress saw this and gave us a dirty look and only checked on us once after that. Pizza was decent but nothing special for the price. Won't go back.
(2)
Stephanie D.

I have never loved tomato head as much as everyone else loves tomato head. I'm just not into pizza or calzones, but this was all before I discovered the Tuscan chicken sandwich. It is sublime. The warm bacon salad isn't the worst either. I'm glad I now don't have to shoot down everyone's constant proposals to go here. Apparently the pizza is good.
(4)
Lan N.

All the hype is true. You are what you eat and I feel less of a fat piggy when I come here for brunch on sunday. This location offers a space that is open and not cramped. The service is friendly and the food is good. True ingredients. True foods. Oh yes, they do offer tempeh here. I had ordered the diego breakfast burrito (spinach, cheese, bacon, egg) and it was was quite delicious. However, the salsa was lacking but ask for the side of mole sauce and you'll be stunned. Stunned that your blood pressure has risen due to how it is well seasoned. Don't worry, it was all worth it. They also have specials from time to time which spices up the menu. Order a mimosa or even a beer. Breakfast of champions without feeling guilty afterwards. I'll have to order the pizza next time and yes, they do sell them by the slice.
(5)
Stan S.

The good: I really like the food choices offered at Tomato Head. Everything I've had has been quite delicious. Great location on Market Square. The bad: The prices really are outrageous and the portions are tiny. As an example, the biscuits and gravy is actually only one biscuit and it is tiny! Biscuit/gravy costs about $12 and I'd have to get three plates to stop being hungry $36 + tax + tip! Compare that to Rankin where $3 gets you a huge plate of biscuits and gravy. Every time I've eaten here, I end up going somewhere else immediately after because I'm still hungry. Overall I pretty much avoid Tomato Head and I'm glad to see more competitors springing up in the area.
(3)
James M.

I was looking for a place to eat on my way over to Johnson City one night and took out my trusty Yelp App and looked for "healthy" in Knoxville. Lo and behold, it found a gem in this Market Square restaurant. First off, the atmosphere. It wasn't too pretentious or assuming and allowed the customer's focus to be on the food, where it belongs. I loved that it was so simple with an open kitchen and great healthy options for everyone in the family. The beer list was pretty great as well. They were doing a focus on Catawba Brewing which was nice because I got to try their Red-iculous IPA, which was appropriately named and ridiculously good! I started my meal with a cup of Pozole Verde, a hominy and chicken soup with fresh herbs, spices, and warmth enough for a cold winter night built in. I ordered the small Oh Boy Sandwich which was amazingly tasty, balanced, and the perfect portion size for a meal before getting back not the road. It was a roasted chicken sandwich with fresh spinach, Benton's bacon, sun-dried tomato, monterey jack cheese, and poppyseed dressing. This just looked and tasted like a sandwich that keeps getting better the more you get in to it. So good! Pros: Tons and tons of healthy veggie options and great prices for amazing food. Cons: I honestly can't think of much of any cons. The lights are a little dim and it's location on Market Square makes it hard for someone who doesn't know Knoxville to park and get to. Overall: This place is phenomenal. i will be back as many times as possible on my trips to and through Knoxville.
(5)
Tiffany K.

Awesome, awesome restaurant. I will definitely be back again. The Market Square Location of Tomato Head has wonderful, fast, friendly service, a great atmosphere, and amazing food. I love the options for vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free customers, and how the menu items are completely customizable. My friend and I went down town last night, and we decided to eat here....honestly, we could not have picked a better place! Our server was excellent and personable, and the atmosphere was chill. I love it! The only thing i regret is not coming more often!!
(5)
Micheal P.

If you are visiting Knoxville and find yourself overwhelmed by the dining choices in Market Square, go to Tomato Head. Go to Tomato Head for delicious comforting pizza. Go to Tomato Head for carefully crafted and unique sandwiches. Go to Tomato Head for soups of the day that warm your body and taste buds. Go for friendly waiters. Go for open and inviting seating space. Go for a child-friendly restaurant experience. Go for delicious baked goods. Go for desserts that you probably shouldn't indulge in, but will anyway. Go to Tomato Head, and you won't be disappointed. Unless you get that walnut mushroom burrito. Don't get that. Burritos need not be made from walnuts and mushrooms. But go for everything else.
(4)
Forrest B.

I've eaten here too many times to try to boil everything I've eaten down into one review. Short version: everything is good. Brunch: It's all pretty tasty. My friends really like the breakfast pizza, but I've never been a fan. It's good, but not my thing. The burritos are huge, easily customizable and made with delicious ingredients. The sandwiches are also fun combinations of complex flavors and traditional ingredients. Oh, and the egg rolls (eggs and meat, or meat substitute, rolled up in a dough and served with a spicy ketchup) are the best thing. If you're undecided, or aren't a huge fan of appetizers, they make a pretty good meal. As for other meals: The salads are criminally underrated. They're huge, have fresh components and have a huge variety of combinations and flavors. And you can't go wrong with any of the dressings. Same with the sandwiches. Of course, you don't really go to Tomato Head for salad, at least I hope. The key is the pizza. The dough is fluffy and near perfect. You can customize with your own flavors and ingredients, which there are a lot of, but the menu has some great pairings listed to order too. They're always happy to customize or change anything and the waitstaff is always friendly and helpful. Both locations are quite understaffed during busy hours, but the waiters make up for it pretty well. You can't go wrong with anything you choose, seriously.
(5)
Jessica S.

My favorite restaurant in town. Brunch is exceptionally good. Both locations have their merits.
(5)
Dustin P.

Cool spot downtown for a casual dinner or lunch. Decently priced for the food quality in my opinion. Pizza is great. If you don't see anything on the menu that interests you, go for the create-your-own - it's practically the same price and you can get very creative with their wide topping selection. Another cool feature is their "flight of the month", which often features local breweries. I have yet to try one but my friends rave about it. Overall, I recommend this restaurant. It's a solid place to go when the wait is too long at some of the top-notch restaurants in the square. I'll surely be back!
(4)
Cherry V.

Enjoyed our food. My husband who is vegan had the pizza with tofu cheese and savored every bite. My 15 year old loved his "normal" pizza. I had a great salad. I'd go back if ever in the area again.
(4)
Ben D.

Flavor loves Freshness, so they decided to get married at Tomato Head on Market Square. In delicious fashion, the couple tied the knot and began a beautiful life together serving the masses with winsome, wonderful displays of their love and teamwork. Quite an appetizing story if you ask me... Went to TH for lunch on Mothers' Day looking for something flavorful and light to fuel our on-the-go afternoon without making us feel like sweating grease and passing out on a sidewalk somewhere. We took the advice of all the raving Yelpers, especially since we needed a place that could accommodate a dairy allergy, and I'm happy to report that they did not disappoint. We were seated quickly, served by a timely and knowledgable waitress who could confidently direct us through the menu with regard to the dairy allergy, and our food was delivered rather promptly as well. Very efficiently and classily handled there, TH. Great work. The food itself was also great work. We ordered the Oh Boy sandwich and the Cheddar Head sandwich, both with the hummus and blue corn chips upgrade. Sandwiches were brimming with both flavor and freshness, and the accompanying hummus was the craaazy fresh, homemade, extra tangy type, not the preservative-laden tub-o-bleh sold beside the cheese cubes at Walmart. Coulda popped a straw into that hummus and downed a whole bowl of it. My only critique is a question of value. When I order a $10ish sandwich, I like to enter the transaction with the understanding that either A) this is gonna be one of the tastiest, most unique things I've had in a while, or B) this is gonna be a LOT of food. TH is clearly not trying to impress the whole-lotta-food camp, because the bulk within the bun was a touch on the scant side. But the sandwiches weren't quiiite where they needed to be with regard to culinary impressiveness either. They were good, mind you, but the bread was an underwhelming element that occupied far too much of the volume of each bite relative to the other sandwich ingredients. It's a whole different scenario if we're talking about a $6 sandwich, but in this case, my assessment is a rousing "good" that's just a little bit shy of being "great." Really enjoyed TH, though - you absolutely will too.
(4)
Mark S.

Hit this up on our way back from our trip to the South Holston River. Wife had described some of the dishes so we figured we would give it a go. Quick Summary: Upscale pizza and sandwich shop. Ambiance: Modern Hipster. Sits on the main square in knoxville. All the waiters and waitress wear their street clothes so you understand it is casual. Service: Pretty good. They sort of tip you off that you are going to have to wait a bit when you sit down. Their slogan screams this is not fast food. Food: Pretty different and good. Has a bit of a granola hippie vibe to it, but the flavor is there. Lamb sausage & sundried tomato calzone: Breading was good around the calzone. Sauce has some tang to it. Sausage was decent and it is just impossible to screw up a sun dried tomato unless you burn it. Kepner Melt: I picked it because it looked like the strangest thing on the menu. Spinach, baked tofu, monterey jack, herbed tomato, pineapple, roasted onion, walnut, pesto, mustard...all heated on a wheat bun. Bizarre was what I thought, so figured I would give it a go and see if this hippie concoction was worth tossing on a menu. It was wonderful. I can't stress enough how no single ingredient seemed to take over in the sandwich. So thumbs up on that one. Summary: Interesting sandwiches along with some fairly traditional pizza combinations and a few that stray outside the box (none of which we tried).
(4)
Rachel S.

Well my update is that the renovations have helped the noise situation somewhat just by now having a small counter space in the bakery/to go area where singles or couples can grab a quick bite at the bar seating and be spared the clamor of the main dining room, which has improved a bit, although I still swear a few well-placed and decoratively blended acoustic tiles would do wonders for everyone's sanity in there. Wish list these, please? Food is still stellar, though the price of the #13 pizza is now so high I have to have done something really special to feel like I can treat myself with that, whereas I used to just make up excuses to get that on a monthly or even bi-monthly basis. I get it, good local food shouldn't be cheap, but that's a ~$40 pizza now with tax(!).
(4)
Stacy M.

This is one of the best food places around. I love everything, as does everyone I've ever or sent there. My all time favorite ~ for many many years ~ is the goat cheese and pesto sandwich. AMAZINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!
(5)
Rachel E.

I was in Knoxville for a work trip back in September and ended up getting lunch with a friend at The Tomato Head. She moved to "Knoxvegas" at the beginning of 2014 and fell in love with TTH shortly thereafter. We had another great dining experience and I was thankful to have her there to guide me through the menu since there were so many entices options. I ordered the chicken pesto and portobello pizza and we split a house salad with the blue cheese vinaigrette. Both were enjoyable and I had plenty of leftover pizza. I wish their patio wasn't directly off the parking lot so we could have had a quieter meal, but it was still nice to spend lunchtime outside. I don't anticipate another visit to Knoxville in the near future, but I definitely recommend a visit to The Tomato Head.
(4)
Joshua H.

I've been to Tomato Head a number of times. The restaurant has an open airy feel. I enjoy their Pesto Salmon Pizza and sweet tea. Service is good. They're friendly but not overly chatty and they kept my sweet tea coming without me having to ask. Food is tasty! The menu has variety but doesn't kill you with options. Desserts are quite tasty as well.
(5)
Smith J.

I love this place, pizza is great, tasty beers available all the time, such a refreshing find that they have slices available and a big big thing for me is that they have vegan and vegetarian options. Friendly atmosphere, friendly servers ( some better than others ) and just an overall cool restaurant vibe with lots of lights and atmosphere, I highly recommend this place
(5)
Treesa G.

Absolutely a fabulous stop for our band on the road. 3/4 are vegans and this was heaven for all 4 of us.
(5)
Joseph S.

In town for the week, loved this place! Built my own pizza: Pesto as sauce, cheese, Benton's bacon, house pickled banana peppers. So good! They cooked the pizza a little longer than what they thought was best (it was still amazing) so as soon as they brought it out, they informed me they put a new one in the oven for me to take to-go for free. Amazing service and care for their customers. Check this place out!
(5)
Anne O.

A little pricey but amazing pizza! Glad I found this place while visiting Knoxville.
(4)
Vance R.

Love the food and always look forward to coming back to Knoxville just so we can eat here :)
(5)
Duy H.

2nd time I've been here. Overall atmosphere is casual and laid back with outside seatings. Place is clean with attentive service. Got the pesto and sundried tomatoes and it was delicious with fresh and juicy flavors! I'm a meat lover pizza kind of guy and was surprised by how much taste this meatless option has to offer. Knoxville's gem for sure so keep it up guys.
(5)
Erin D.

I've never had a bad meal here. The food is always top notch. They have redone the building to make it bigger which is great, but it lost a little of the intimacy. If you are a vegetarian you just hit the jackpot.. heck even I eat tofu here.. I HATE tofu. The Kepner melt is a big hit with almost anyone. I would bathe in the tahini if it was legal. I always order hummus and tahini for guests to try with their home made bread. If you are looking for greasy pizza walk away. If you want a crafted pizza with pesto or goat cheese...have a seat. The calzones are great as well.. and gasp should I say the salads hit the spot w the vinaigrette I'm thrilled. They actually have another location in Bearden that is just as good. No matter when you come to Knoxville I would give this spot a try..invite me I'll sit there with you!
(5)
Jess N.

Was visiting from Charlotte for work. I loved this place. The pizza was so good I ended up going back the next day. Probably the best pizza I have ever had. I love that you can see into the kitchen while you wait, they offer vegan desserts. It's just a great environment. Loved it
(4)
V P.

This place was great. The food was delicious and fresh. We had the house salad, soup of the day, tuscan chicken sandwich and cheese pizza. In thinking hard on what would have made my visit even better I would say a less oily pizza (though still very good) and a more attentive server (forgot my beverage but extremely nice).
(4)
Charley S.

One. Of. The. Best. Seriously, this is one of the best places to eat in downtown Knoxville. Full stop. My go-to-every-time item: the black bean hummus. Hummus with black beans and a drizzle of Sriracha. Blue corn ship dippers. Top drawer. The pizzas are great. Any of them. The southwest salad with the southwest vinaigrette is another show stopper.
(5)
Michael S.

I REALLY want to give this place an awesome review. The food is good, not life changing, plenty of options for the vegans, vegetarians, gluten-phobes, etc. amongst us. The killer is the hit or miss service. Some visits we get great servers, other times servers forget appetizers or drinks, once they forgot to assign a server to our table. Step up the service, or step up the food, even moderately, and this place becomes a must visit. Until then, there are plenty of other places in the Market Square area that are higher on the list of places to eat.
(3)
Jimmy R.

The food is delicious, but the service and environment are just OK. The market square location is always so loud. I'm not quite sure what it is about the arrangement of the tables and the room, but even after the renovation, it's almost impossible to have a dinner conversation. The food is also a bit overpriced, especially if you want anything customized. For example, it's about $2-3 extra for vegan cheese on a personal pizza, while at many other Knoxville restaurants this is a complementary substitution. A small increase for a slightly more expensive raw ingredient is fine, but $2-3 is just gouging a customer base with few options for eating out.
(3)
Michael Y.

I just do not get it. The ambiance is crowded and very loud. I find the prices very high for what is provided. The food quality is very good and the variety is OK. I must admit I am a bit of an omnivore unlike my wife who was a vegetarian for 8 years. My wife, unlike me loves The Tomato Head. AS you can imagine, her order tend to be vegetarian oriented. I guess my unsophisticated, omnivore tastes just are not able to appreciate this restaurant.
(3)
Stan W.

Loved the freshness and flavor of the food. Vegetables tasted fresh out of the ground. Tomato-Chipotle Soup was wonderful with nice spicy kick, as well. Highly Recommended!
(5)
Peter F.

The pizza with pesto sauce is a great option, one beyond the scope of lesser pizzerie. Knoxville is an alternative Boulder with fewer and lower mountains butjust as "alternattive" in feeling.
(5)
Tyler W.

I stopped here by myself during lunch time on a weekday and was promptly seated. I like the decor of the place and I ended up ordering a calzone with lamb sausage, which was pretty good! The calzone wasn't mine boring, but definitely delicious
(4)
Jennie B.

Consistently very good food. Sandwiches, soups, salads--all good. Love their creative ingredient mixtures in sandwiches. Downtown location is typically busier than the West location off Kingston Pike.
(4)
L M.

Consistently good, fresh food. I wish they had more wine/liquor options. I enjoy taking out of town company here. Excellent desserts. The atmosphere is loud and light.
(4)
Mark B.

The Oh Boy sandwich is aptly named -- boy was that good! Great place for a small bite to eat or a bit larger meal as they have small and large portions of menu items. Bread was great and the mix of toppings was very tasty! Next time I'm through Knoxville, I will certainly try to stop by again.
(4)
Salmaan T.

Great atmosphere, creative menu, delicious food. Have never been disappointed by the specials of the day. Very tasty. Their vegan chocolate chip cookies are surprisingly delicious.
(5)
Paul B.

We had had a long day. First we did the Book Fair in World's Fair Park, then we walked around the Market Square Farmer's Market. We were ready for lunch. Nervously I recommended we try the Tomato Head as I had heard good things about it, but my wife is usually not a fan of more hippie-ish restaurants. When you enter you have to go threw a crowded bar area to get to the real restaurant which is a bit annoying. The decor and employees made us feel out of place as its very fashionable hipster-like. When we got our table we first ordered the hummus plate as an appetizer. It was pretty awesome. My wife got the cheddar head and loved it. I got the oh boy and was pretty happy with it also. The kids split a cheese pizza and were happy with it. The prices are a bit high but the food is all very tasty.
(4)
Madison M.

If I could give The Tomato Head more than 5 stars, I would. This is the holy grail of Knoxville food. I could close my eyes, pick a random item and be satisfied when it arrives. Their pesto is to die for, and they offer a lot of local ingredients. They also have gluten free, vegan and vegetarian options.
(5)
Anna G.

Tomato Head was one of the first Knoxville restaurants that I ever visited and now it is one of my favorites! I have found my favorite thing on the menu and I get it every time I go: the Vegan sandwich. I'm not vegan, but this sandwich might just convert me. It tastes that good. Their pesto is freshly made in-house and served with bread as an appetizer that I would highly recommend.
(5)
Danny T.

Wonderful food and great service. The only knock on the food this morning was the biscuits. They were crispy.
(4)
John J.

When it comes to healthy, vegetarian, great atmosphere, kind speedy service then Tomato Head is the place. I'm a fan of their combination pizza's, check out these toppings, pesto, sun tried tomatos, andouille sausage, lamb sausage, boasted portobello, just to name a few of my favorite toppings. The new remodeled place has a beer and wine bar, with pastries.
(5)
Jamie W.

This place rocks! Every time I go to Knoxville, going to Tomato Head in Market Square is a must! Great food, service, and ambiance tucked away into the charm and fun that is Market Square. The have delicious food from lunch to dinner and an excellent brunch experience! The bread for everything is made in house and is delicious! I usually order anything that has Andouille Sausage and it never disappoints. My only complaint is that I wish there was one in Nashville. A guy can dream...
(5)
Rob D.

Had the Ham and Pineapple pizza. Really good food. Pizza was good and a great crust. Would come back again.
(4)
Audrey H.

We were craving pizza and have heard great things about tomato head so we headed over to check it out. We got the four cheese pizza with pepperoni on half. It was good, the crust was awesome, but there was no red sauce or any sauce on this particular pizza! definitely our fault for not closely reading the menu. We asked the waitress for a side of marinara sauce, she replied with a "no problem!" and quickly returned with it. We were happy with our pizza, but noticed that all the pizzas can get a little pricey, whether you create your own or pick one of the specialties. Their ingredients are of good quality so I guess your getting what you pay for. I am looking forward to trying a salad or sandwich, there is a livery selection of both on their menu!
(4)
Kelly L.

The Tomato Head is a Knoxville institution- I remember coming here when I was in high school and there was nothing else in Market Square except the Mercury Lounge. The food has always been excellent. Every pizza, sandwich, salad, and dessert that I've eaten here since the 90s has been delicious. Whether I was a vegan, vegetarian, or carnivore, I always had plenty of options. Their new digs are more upscale than The Tomato Head of my youth, but the food remains just as good; the service is even better now. This is a great, healthier alternative to most restaurant food.
(5)
Mark S.

Enjoyed a fantastic Omelet for breakfast! The service was excellent, the food was well prepared and even the coffee was above par. If your in the Knoxville area, I would recommend stopping in and enjoying some great food. Can't wait to try them for lunch.
(4)
Amber N.

Stopped in on our way through town for lunch and ordered the vegan sandwich. It was filling and pretty good, but also a rather generic sandwich. I think if we came through again I would try a salad or vegan pizza. It was busy but we managed to get a table by the window where my husband could charge his computer which was great since he was on call for work. Very open and bright environment. If we had had time, I would have liked to wait for an outside table.
(3)
Joe H.

The meal was unremarkable. There are better choices on the Market Square.
(3)
Adam T.

The first thing you notice about this restaurant is the clean look and modern decor. It really pleases my eye. Some places are all style and no substance but that is not the case with Tomato Head. The care taken with the design of the restaurant reflects the choices they make to locally source ingredients and prepare fresh, delicious fare. They offer a great selection of local craft beers on draught which is always something I seek out when dining on vacation. A great pint from Wiseacre brewing, and a goat cheese, spinach, and tomato pizza made for a nice evening. The din of the restaurant makes it very kid friendly as our two monsters were not on their best behavior but no one seemed to notice. Our service was friendly and prompt as well. This is another must eat on any Knoxville culinary adventure.
(5)
Jamie M.

Five stars for food. Whether you go for brunch, lunch, or dinner nothing dissapoints. The food is reasonably priced and everything on the menu is good. Whether you're in the mood for pizza, sandwiches, or burritos you're sure to be satisfied. They're cupcakes are also the best I've had. Finally they have specials every day.
(5)
Anthony C.

The chicken and pesto pizza was tasty but I myself prefer a thinner and lighter crust. I also got the sandwich of the day which was small chunks of bacon, roasted sweet potatoes, and goat cheese on their wheat bread. Although the ingredients were good, it was hard to appreciate them all w the sandwich being 75% bread. Id still come back but maybe ask for the pita instead
(3)
Tim A.

I am thoroughly at the 4.5 mark with this place; as a general rule, I tend to round down on reviews, but it should be known that I think this place is just a dash above Hard Knox, which i also gave 4 stars. The Goat Cheese & Walnut was truly just impeccable; undeniable 5-star quality. The sides were better than so-so, but also not stellar. Strictly for pizza, though, this place has to best in town (and I try to avoid such absolute statements unless I have pretty good reason to say it). In addition to the top-notch ingredients and flavor profiles, one of the most memorable parts of this pizza is the crust. I can't count the number of pizzas I've had where the crust was merely a vehicle to hold all the ingredients together, but this stuff is so fluffy and rich that it sends to you heaven. Greasiness can be a detractor at many places, but I must stress that this is the right kind of greasy (well, not for your health, of course). One-upping Hard Knox, another fine establishment, was no small feat. Bravo.
(4)
Matt H.

We stopped off here on our trip from Philadelphia while passing through Knoxville. THIS PLACE IS AWESOME. I had the Gorgonzola & Roasted Onion sandwich with blue chips and hummus and a glass of French Broad's ESB. My fiancÃ© had the southwest salad & thought it was fantastic. The whole meal rocked, but the hummus was out of this world. May be the best I ever had. For those craft beer fans out there, these folks have 19 taps with mainly selections by breweries located within geographic locale, which I think is pretty cool. Cool atmosphere. Great food and craft beer. Excellent service.
(5)
Elizabeth L.

I love this place. I wish it were less pricey, but I love it so much that I don't even care... Just have to limit myself to special occasions. We had a nice waiter who was more than willing to explain every single thing on the menu and specials. This is very helpful with kids and especially if you have one that is such a picky eater he hates to eat out. He gets stressed that there won't be anything he will like or that something awful will be hidden in his food, like spinach! Eeek!! Our waiter was so kind he set our son at ease without even knowing his hang up. My daughter is vegan and my dad is gluten free, so this place was GREAT. And it wasn't bland, watered down food, it was fresh tasting and yummy. I love the hummus and black beans with blue chips. Hands down the best pizza in Knoxville. My son wants .to eat it everyday! It was nice when my dad visited to take him some place where he could have a decent meal and not worry about his gluten allergy or him eating something he shouldn't have and being sick later. Our server was so pleasant and very attentive. The tables, floors and restrooms were clean. Since we are locals it's nice to have a place like this to bring our visiting families and friends to eat when they visit.
(4)
Mike W.

The Tomato Head has a great location. If you're lucky enough to sit outside there on a nice day, it looks right out on to market square. I came here for the pizza but was surprised to see their extensive beer list and bar with all kinds of cookies and baked goods. I ordered the portabello mushroom and tomato pizza with a side salad. When it first came out, I thought the crust looked way too doughy. But then I bit into it and it was just the right amount of crispiness. The pizza used a nice oily pesto base, which went well with the toppings. I got a simple honey mustard sauce with the salad, not really expecting much, but it was phenomenal. It even came with a piece of focaccia. We were just stopping in Knoxville and this was the perfect spot to grab a bite to eat, at a reasonable price, and hang out in the center of market square. Heck, you could even go just to grab a beer and people watch.
(4)
Ashley T.

Love the tomato head. We moved to middle Tn & I miss the convenience of having tomato head hummus in my fridge. There is something about it that no other hummus I've tried has had! My favorites (in addition to the hummus) are the kepner melt (no cheese, sub vegan pesto), pizza with pesto base, jalapeÃ±o, and pineapple (thanks for the tip, Tara), and bread and tahini. Everything always tastes fresh and delicious. I don't ever recall having a bad experience at either location. Cute & friendly staff. Good beer. Only giving 4 stars because the size of the sammies definitely shrunk down quite a bit over the years. Open a Nashville location.
(5)
Ashleigh H.

I tried this place out while passing through Knoxville on vacation and it was so good! The five cheese pizza is a must. Our server was good too! The only downside is the prices of the pizzas but the quality is definitely worth the price. We'll definitely be back next time we are in TN!
(5)
Jack C.

I am a huge fan of chicken pesto sandwiches. I have tried many of these sandwiches, however Tomato Head has BY FAR the highest quality, freshest and best tasting Chicken Pesto sandwich that I have ever tried. The wheat bread comes out warm with a slightly crunchy outside and deliciously soft inside. The chicken is cooked perfectly and the pesto, greens, tomato, mozzarella cheese are a perfect combination. HIGHLY recommend this sandwich for lunch or dinner. The staff has always been friendly. They also are rather hip and trendy. Even during busy times, I never felt rushed by my waiter/ waitresses. The price is on point, along with the portion sizes. Located in Market Square, it's rather convenient. Street parking, might need to walk a little...however it's worth it.
(5)
Toad M.

Very good. I would love to give it a 4.5 but not possible. The greet and bar staff was a bit inattentive and just a bit rude. Our waiter was very good. The food very fresh and good tasting. The southwest chicken salad was awesome. The gorginzola pizza was really good. The tomato soup was a bit sweet. Chicken salad not so good. Greek salad was very good. I will visit again for sure.
(4)
Wenston R.

Great place nice atmosphere. Love the new look. Food is always good. Sandwiches ate good with blue chips and now you can add cookies.
(4)
Chelsea G.

Delicious! I got an amazing spinach calzone, and my mother and friend Tony split a pepperoni pizza. We got blue chips and salsa for an appetizer. Everything was amazing. The atmosphere is very modern and relaxing.
(5)
Christie B.

Mark and I came here on our way to Fairfield Glades. We found the place through Yelp. We loved the location...easy to get to from the interstate and situated in a courtyard/square atmosphere. We shared a Greek salad and each ordered a 9 inch pizza. I had the house wine which was a great blend and Mark had a local ale which he thought was good. The salad was good but the dressing was special. The pizzas were good also. We prefer more sauce so would order accordingly next time. The service was great. We liked the freshness of all the food. Worth a stop!
(4)
Jacob K.

This was my first time in Knoxville and someone at the hotel recommended it. We were promptly seated and given drinks. The server was nice, though I was a little suprised they had no lemonade. We ordered 4 pizzas and a gluten free burrito. We all agreed that the pizzas were delicious and my brother gobbled down the yummy burrito. PS: it was pouring and lightning when we were getting ready to leave and the staff was very understanding about inviting people out of the rain.
(5)
Brittany W.

Fantastic atmosphere! If you are a vegetarian and some grub or just wish to have a healthier restaurant- style choice then this is the place for you! This is one of my favorite locations because it is convenient to get to. You can use the garage and walk here or just catch a KAT bus downtown to get to this area. It is surrounded by other eateries and a few retail establishments if you wish to go in one while waiting for your food to go. They have a bar as well and plenty of seating when you are into groups. I love the pasta salad! 3 weeks ago I tried it with a type of vinegar dressing. I'm always looking to try something new whenever I go. I still haven't been able to try the pizza yet but I'm getting to it. I'm very glad that they expanded since the Tomato Head in this area is just as popular as the one on Kingston Pike. Literally everytime I go! The staff are also very friendly and people who don't even know you that are just dining say hello. It is like another world.
(5)
Haley A.

I had really only heard bad things about this place because of the legal issues but I finally tried The Tomato Head and was very impressed. Food was amazing, service was first rate, all-in-all a fantastic experience. I will definitely be taking my family for lunch when they visit from out of state!
(5)
Elle C.

I have a lot of opinions about side salads, and this place has one of the best I've had. Romaine, cabbage, carrots, onions, mushrooms, sprouts, tomatoes, and probably some other heavenly things that I forgot about. Go with the basil vinaigrette. The calzone was also delicious. Very basil-y, which is a compliment. Unless you don't like basil. We also got mini cupcakes and coffee to go. My non-vegan husband was humming a lovely tune while he ate his tiny vegan carrot cake cupcake, which is a pretty good sign. And it's a super adorable location. A win all-around.
(5)
Barbara P.

This place seemed very fun with lots of options. However, the prices seemed a little steep for the pizzas. $17 for a 9" and $33 for a 14"? These better be gourmet, deep dish pizzas! My boyfriend and I decided to share a 9" and split the cost. Wow, were we disappointed. The pizza came out and it was a 4 piece, personal size pizza. Although the flavors were good this was very over priced and not worth the money. Unless you want to gouge your wallet for above par pizza, don't come here. They also messed up the order of someone we were with. Luckily his meal was taken off the bill and he was given another child size serving to almost equal a full meal.
(2)
Brian C.

Pizza was great, and so was the house made veggie burger, maybe one of the best tasting house made veggie burgers I've ever had! Atmosphere is really cool, being on Market Square. Vegan & Vegetarian options are available.
(5)
Calvin D.

Wonderful, fresh food that is always unique!
(5)
Debra P.

We went to Market Square in search of another restaurant, couldn't find it so went into The tomato head. I have to be gluten free and they had delicious pizzas, some desserts and didn't explore the menu better but I suspect they had more gluten free choices, a little pricey but we had great service and food
(4)
Kelly R.

The Tomato Head moved into Market Square when it was practically a ghost town, and now just look at what's sprung up around it. See, they've always been ahead of the curve, rather than just jumping on trends. The same goes with the food. Before people realized that vegetarians ate too, before "organic" was hip, before hummus was in grocery stores, and before "local" was a buzzword, The Tomato Head was using real, fresh, organic ingredients in inventive ways. It stands to reason that their food is going to be better than a lot of places with similar philosophies --they've been doing it longer. It shows in some of their menu staples, like their savory, garlicky pesto and their creamy hummus (which they've been making since long before those items appeared on other menus). Their homemade sandwich breads and pizza dough make their sandwiches and pizzas better before you even begin to think about toppings. (Places that get their dough pre-made from a delivery truck ought to be ashamed.) Oh, the toppings! Not only the pesto I mentioned, but REAL cheese. Fresh mozzarella and fontina ... I swear, you can taste the cow. Meat eaters get some fun stuff too, like andouille sausage or a lamb sausage that's made in house. Check the specials board. Anything on it will be stunning, and always features fresh, seasonal ingredients. Try the Kepner Melt--it's a strange combination of ingredients that somehow works. The spinach and bacon salad is served with a sweet/savory dressing that's heated so that it shocks the crisp leaves into submission. The smoked salmon and pesto pizza is the shizz. I could keep going. Maybe that's why, after more than two decades, I keep going back.
(5)
Audrey J.

I am not a picky eater so I like almost all food, and tomato heads food is pretty good. I will say their salad dressings are killer. However the crowded atmosphere and hipster wait staff make me choose elsewhere. I've been there too many times where it almost seems like they are wondering why you chose to eat here much less get sat at their table. I am a potter and I use to be able to bring in a mug for trade in food, then the dollar amount kept decreasing for the trade until one day the manager said we don't do that anymore. It's one of those things that made them different and was a pretty cool system, apparently they couldn't control their wait staff from stealing those mugs so you never actually saw them in the store. Overall there are better restaurants with better prices, better attitudes, and better food!
(1)
AbdelRahman M.

I've never had anything at The Tomato Head that I didn't love. It's great - the ingredients, the culinary creations, and the user experience. You'll be bummed if you come to Knoxville and you don't eat here!
(5)
Angela H.

Hands down the best customer service! Great food! My husband and I are new to the vegan lifestyle and our waiter was so patient with us. We have cut out all oils, diary and sugar too. Our waiter worked with us to help us customize our lunch. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Terri N.

Tomato Head has the best pizza in Knoxville. The wait staff there is wonderful and help me decide from all the wonderful Tomato Head dishes!
(5)
L B.

Always exceeding expectations - the tomato head has come thru the past twenty years as a shining star of Knoxville area dining - consistently good and always unique combinations of ingredients make for some of the best soup and sandwich combinations in the area - the hand done pizzas show the same vision and share the same uniqueness. The remodeling has increased the breeziness of the space and makes it seem far larger than before even in the previous dining area-space the increased seating means ... less waiting! robust outdoor seating with watering spots for 4 legged pals of patrons and seating on the square make a great place even better..
(5)
Cindy B.

The reviews for this place were so good we had to try it. The Kepler sandwich was was very unique. Fried tofu, caramelized onions, walnuts, spinach, pineapple and mustard are the things I can remember. The wheat bread was delicious. It was very nice to have something so different. And so fresh! The side salad was fresh and delicious also. Great service, friendly hostess, nice atmosphere.
(5)
Josh H.

Wow-you must go here! We had the hummus plate, the chicken portobello and pesto pizza, and you gotta try the warm bacon salad. Fast, amazing service and a bustling atmosphere. I would park in the parking deck around the corner and enjoy market square. We live in Charlotte and Knoxville now and are just exploring the area. We have now found our favorite pizza spot!
(5)
Melissa B.

Yum..yum..yum! My sister and her husband talk about this place ALL the time and we finally ate there when we visited this weekend. I now know what they are raving about. So fresh! Great service...quick delivery..and just delicious! I had the Gorgonzola, roast beef, onion sandwich and it was the perfect size and was tasty. All the kids had waffles...yum...next time trying pizza and salads.
(5)
Doug B.

Nice, clean, and enjoyable restaurant. A little pricy but very good. And the craft beers are delicious
(5)
Rick N.

Based on the reviews, stopped here for lunch while traveling through Knoxville. Reviews are correct -- This place is terrific! Exceptional food and service. We had the O Boy Sandwich, Greek Salad, Black Beans and Rice, and Blueberry Cobbler. We highly recommend the O Boy and the Cobbler.
(5)
Candice F.

Great service. Location right in the square. Really pretty area. Food was delicious. I ordered the small bacon salad, could've gotten a large because I inhaled it. Also got the ham and cheese sandwich. And for something so simple, it was really good. For healthy, organic food, it was also pretty affordable. Would definitely go back the next time I pass through.
(5)
Michael U.

Items selected: Basil, Tomato, Cheese Slice Gorgonzola, Walnut Slice Peach Cobbler Vegan Peach Muffin Per the story on the menu, The Tomato Head was originally planned as a French Bistro but somewhere along the way pizza became the focus and the crowds followed - enough to make the large restaurant on Market Square one of Knoxville's most well regarded restaurants, enough to spawn a second location, and enough to put the locally-sourced and house-made focused spot on my dining agenda during a quick stop in the city. Heavy in wood and friendly in service with a wide variety of baked goods, sandwiches, soups, pizzas, and more on the menu plus an order/pay-up-front counter with ample seating for those waiting for their food it would not be long after arrival that my savories and sweets were placed before me simultaneously and a bit flustered as I watched my ice cream melt over the hot cobbler I tasted the pizza, instantly deciding the better part of valor would be to eat the cobbler as both slices were bland and underflavored with a crust equal to many high school cafeterias and cheese perhaps worse. Pizza an unmitigated disaster and thus largely uneaten at approximately $2.50 a slice both desserts would prove vastly superior largely based on the quality of the fresh peaches, a light poppyseed biscuit and ice cream providing depth of flavor and texture to the cobbler and excellent buttercream topping off a muffin literally wet with fruit but not overly sweet.
(2)
Steve G.

Had the pizza and a chicken sandwich. Pizza was half 5 cheese and have bacon/sausage. Very tasty. Fresh bread with the sandwich, made in the store. Could have included a little more chicken, but the pesto spread was fab.
(4)
Kate M.

I had to write a review because I was so pleased that I ate here twice in one weekend. Once for dinner: I got a pizza, and had a fairly large group. They came out and told us that it would be longer than usual do brought us three free appetizers! And, I gotta say, the pesto sauce is the best I have ever had. The pizza is pretty great. I also came here for post church brunch one sunday, and where TUPELO HAD A 2 HOUR, 20 MINUTE WAIT, tomato head was only 20 minutes... This makes no sense to me because I've had both breakfasts now, and while Tupelo's biscuits are spectacular, I have never had an omelette as perfect as the one they made me at Tomato Head. Literally, everything was stuck together perfectly, the perfect proportions of every ingredient, end of taste... It was just magnificent. Also the biscuits here are wonderful (and try the jam!) I am coming here every knoxville trip. Oh and the service is fantastic.
(5)
John B.

The beer selection is really good. My fiancÃ© ordered a chicken sandwich and I was really impressed (She let me have a bite. Only one though. "Too good to share.") I ordered pizza with extra sauce on the side... best move I ever made. Pizza sauce is amazing!!! If you like pizza sauce, come to this place. If you don't like pizza sauce, punch yourself in the face.
(5)
Natalye R.

On my first full day in Knoxville, my parents took me downtown to show off the overwhelming amount of vegan selections in the food department, and to do this, they decided upon lunch at Tomato Head. The place is clearly popular with lots of people, as most of the tables were packed. The weather was perfect for patio seating, but there were plenty of folks already there with their dogs. So we were seated at a four-top toward the back. Initially I was concerned about the loudness but it ended up being a non-issue. The air conditioning vent above us, however, was a bit of an annoyance. We got our menus and checked them out, and I was pleased to see such a wide range of dishes to choose from, including pizzas, sandwiches, burgers, salads, burritos, and the like. What's more is that many of them had vegan cheese options, or were simply vegan if you removed the regular cheese. I decided upon the aptly named vegan sandwich with an addition of soy cheese (although, for the extra cost, I could have done without, because it didn't add much to the meal). The blue corn chips were also a great side option. My dining companions also had sandwiches and one had a burger and everyone enjoyed their meals. Also: quality root beer. Need I say more? Our spot was also great for people watching, as all the foot traffic in the restaurant, from servers to bussers to guests using the restrooms, were routed right past our table. There was almost too much going on that it was overwhelming, but that's to be expected during busy hours. I don't imagine that I will be back on this visit, but perhaps on the next - and I know that if I lived in Knoxville, this place would likely be a staple of mine.
(4)
Melanie D.

Well I first want to say that they have a lot more than pizza, which I rarely order here. I love the food at Tomato Head, and it's a great place to take your vegan friend. However, at this location I always sense a bit of an attitude from the wait staff. When I inquired about the size of the brunch Mimosas, I did not need nor request a flippant, extensive description of how a Mimosa is made. Tomato Head's Mimosa's are served in a wine glass for $6; I can walk to other establishments in the square and get a pint glass size for $7. A little pricey. I am always a fan of the food and they do have a good selection of draft beers. Unlike many restaurants in town, there are still many items on the menu I look forward to trying, which ensures return visits. If the wait staff would improve their attitude, I might be inclined to change my review to 5 stars.
(4)
Tami W.

Excellent fresh food at a good price point. The staff are friendly and efficient. Overall a fantastic experience!
(5)
Cheryl S.

Amazing! Hummus was awesome and the Veggie quesadilla was delicious. If you are in Knoxville this is a most come to place to eat!!
(5)
Benjamin R.

this place is awesome! the food is wonderful they have so many options great sandwiches and salads but also a stellar brunch menu as well
(5)
Tiffany M.

Best Pizza in Knoxville!
(5)
Jessica I.

I love Tomato Head! Fresh and semi-local ingredients, vegetarian and meat options. The sandwiches are great.
(4)
Emily J.

This was the first place that I went to in Knoxville, and it's so good that I'm having a little trouble branching out. I just keep wanting to go back! Everything that I've tried is delicious and the service has also been really great as well. I especially like the Southwest Salad with grilled tofu. I've also liked all of the pizzas that I've tried (including meat and vegetarian options), as well as the desserts (key lime pie once, incredible cobbler another time, and a cupcake that was way too big but otherwise fantastic). Pro tip: the small pizzas are small enough to eat by yourself, the large pizzas are big enough for four not-too-hungry people. They also have a great beer selection and very knowledgeable staff. My only complaint is that it can be a bit loud an echo-y when it's busy.
(5)
Nicollette C.

Definitely a favorite of mine! The best part is that I feel like I'm eating relatively healthy when I'm there! :) Love it!
(4)
Jessica T.

Not only was the pizza delicious, but the service was top shelf. We were passing through and called ahead, and the staff went the extra mile to make sure we had everything we needed even though we arrived as they were closing. The pizza was fresh, unique and on point. So many options too. We recommend getting the 14'' pizzas as they are more for your money. We loved the portobello&pesto pizza and walnut&Gorgonzola were delicious.
(4)
Jamie F.

Their menu is delicious and their prices are great. They also have the largest vegan desserts I've seen, that taste just like non-vegan desserts!
(5)
Matthew P.

Great, organic, fresh, local food at its best. I had a goat cheese, Benton's bacon pizza last night with a (must try) side of their tahini dressing. Amazing. Used to work there too. Didn't end that well, but is still Love the food.
(5)
Julia H.

Great food selection. Something for everyone from vegetarian to lofty meat eater to desserts only! The baked goods are pricy, but tasty.
(4)
Stephanie G.

The first time I was here was with one of my best friends. I don't remember what she ordered. I chose the berry cobbler, which was baked in the serving bowl, and topped with a poppyseed biscuit and ice cream. It was delicious! I wanted to bring a treat for my partner so I ordered a (low gluten or gluten free) hot chocolate cupcake to go. The icing on it was phenomenal but the cupcake itself was dry and mediocre. The second time I went was with the partner. We ordered a 14" pizza with bacon, ham, and andouille sausage. It was so good we overate! Would wholeheartedly recommend this place, but be cautious with the desserts if you lack intolerances and prefer the more standard forms.
(5)
Martin B.

Adrienne was our server. We had an unwieldy 15 person table that she and the kitchen handled with breathtaking aplomb. Bravo Adrienne! Food was great. Thanks Tomato Head!
(5)

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Address : 12 Market Sq
Knoxville, TN, 37902
Phone (865) 637-4067
Website https://www.thetomatohead.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:00 am - 3:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Hipster
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

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Pizza

Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.

Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.

Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20^th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.

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The Tomato Head

12 Market Sq, Knoxville, TN, 37902

The Tomato Head Menu

Appetizers

Housemade Soups

Salads

Sandwiches

Quesadillas

Sweets

Healthy Meal suggestions for The Tomato Head

Appetizers

Housemade Soups

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Eva V.

Adrianna L.

Taylor M.

molly q.

Heather H.

Matthew C.

Noel L.

Susan C.

Ryan S.

David L.

Scott W.

Amanda M.

Tara S.

Monica S.